Lions donate blue blocking glasses to area schools

Area Lions Clubs have a long history of providing eye care for students here in Medford and Taylor County as well as around the world.

That support is going up a notch with the recent donation of several hundred pairs of special glasses designed to block the emission of blue light that comes from fluorescent lighting and computer screens. In addition, the schools were provided with sunglasses for the students.

Patty Krug, Whittlesey Lions member, and District representative for Wisconsin Lions Foundation provided a donation to all Taylor County schools of the computer glasses and sunglasses. This donation was an anonymous donation to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. Wisconsin Lions Foundation has five projects which include eyeglass recycling and vision screening. Wisconsin Lions have screened 98,028 children since July 2023 and referred 11,529 for additional vision screening.

According to Krug, the Wisconsin Lions Foundation has received 570,594 eyeglass donations since July 2023. They have provided eyeglasses shipments from July 2023 to present 57 missions serviced with 132,225 eyeglasses shipped with over 10,000 eyeglasses pending shipment. Locations they have serviced include, states within the U.S. (including Wis.), Guatemala, Philippines, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kenya, Guyana, Liberia, Senegal, Peru, and Honduras.

Krug recently presented the school district with over 600 pairs of blue light glasses and 300 sunglasses to help children protect their eyes from screen time and the sun respectively.

“Blue light glasses are absolutely beneficial for children of all ages. The jury is still out as to whether excessive blue light exposure can be harmful to the health of the eyes and increase the risk of serious eye diseases. But we do know that wearing blue light glasses can reduce headaches and eyestrain, as well as improve sleep quality. Children should be evaluated to determine any need for prescription lenses to maximize these benefits,” said Dr. Julie Thums of Healthview Eye Care.

Student Services Director Joseph Greger noted the Lions Club continues to be a strong partner for area schools and families. “Eye exams, glasses, eye gaze technology, Braille writers, Lions Camp scholarships, and donations to causes like Our Village Inclusive Playground,” he said noting the many services the Lions provide to the area. These glasses will be offered to parents and children who are interested at school and community upcoming events.

“We have five Lions Clubs in Taylor County; Jump River, Gilman, Rib Lake, Medford and Whittlesey who all contribute funds to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation to continue their efforts in the areas of the Lions Camp, Vision Screening, Eye Glass Recycling, Hearing and Diabetes Awareness. Anyone who would be interested in joining Lions should contact one of the clubs in Taylor County,” Krug said.