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What is the Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP)?
The Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP, pronounced "leap") is a community-based education program that allows Lions clubs, other community organizations, and individuals to promote healthy vision and raise awareness of the causes of preventable vision loss. The mission of LEHP is to empower communities to save sight through the early detection and timely treatment of glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, encourage those at risk to undergo a dilated eye exam, and educate those with low vision and their caregivers about the condition.
LEHP is the main SightFirst-funded initiative for industrialized nations. LEHP has been active in the United States, Japan, the British Isles and Ireland, Canada, Australia, and Turkey. Everyone interested in eye health can now participate in LEHP and help to increase eye health awareness.
What’s New? -
Eye Care Resources to Promote Healthy Vision for All, Especially Women, Children and Seniors
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has partnered with Women’s Eye Health.org to encourage regular and timely eye care treatment for women, as well as seniors and children. Protect the vision of the women in all of our lives; encourage your mother, sister, wife and friends to see an eye care professional for a comprehensive eye exam on a regular basis. This information for women can be used by your club promote women’s eye health. The educational public service announcement and brochure materials are available online. Body weight and smoking can also negatively impact vision, and public service announcements are available on both weight and smoking.
Two other groups, children and seniors, are two important target populations in your community who need to receive eye health education, and your Lions club can provide this information easily. There are a number of resources available to supplement your community outreach services and to promote healthy vision for everyone. Two PowerPoint Presentations are available on children’s vision and eye health for seniors. There is also public service announcement on senior's eye health.
Six brochures are available to download and print:
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Eyecare Checklists Eyecare provider checklist, warning signs of eye disease and five steps to protecting your family's vision
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All Eyes on the Family Educational Glaucoma Program 
A family history of glaucoma increases a person’s risk for developing the disease. In response to this important risk factor, Lions Clubs International Foundation, in partnership with Allergan, Inc., a global leader in eye care, have developed the All Eyes on the Family program. All Eyes on the Family is a national educational program to enhance the dialogue between those diagnosed with or at risk for glaucoma, their family members and caregivers, and eye care professionals. All Eyes on the Family is designed to increase awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive management of glaucoma in order to preserve sight.
Ten Lions clubs and Lions-affiliated organizations across the United States were awarded grants to develop glaucoma programs in their communities. They will be hosting kick-off glaucoma screening and education events. Check here to see if any of the screenings are nearby you as the events are open to the public! Please click here to learn more about the All Eyes on the Family program and to download helpful resources for people with glaucoma and their family members and caregivers.
The All Eyes on the Family program is an educational initiative sponsored by LCIF and Allergan, Inc.
What is the Need?
Nearly 70 percent of all people who are blind or visually impaired are women. Factors like age, nutrition, hormone-related issues, as well as access to information and treatment all put women at greater risk for eye disease. As populations continue to age, vision problems for women are expected to increase.
More Americans than ever are facing the threat of vision loss. As the population ages, it is estimated that the number of people with vision loss in the United States will double over the next twenty years. Raising awareness of eye health can help millions of Americans avoid disability, loss of independence, and a diminished quality of life. More than $22 billion is spent annually on care and services for people who suffer from vision loss. These costs include treatment, education, loss of personal income, and associated costs, such as, Social Security disability benefits.
Eye Care Resources
Eye Care and Education Programs
EyeCare America offers multiple eye care programs for which individuals may qualify for services. The programs include Seniors, Glaucoma, Diabetes, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and Children’s EyeCare. Callers will automatically be screened to determine the program that provides the most appropriate eye care services to meet their needs.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Eli Lilly has a public awareness campaign devoted to raising awareness of diabetic eye disease. This nationwide campaign challenges people to think about the costs of vision loss and the small changes that can save sight. If you're in one of the risk groups take a little time to have a dilated eye exam.
Low Vision
The National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) has a new resource to educate others about effective ways to live with low vision, and to promote low vision and rehabilitative services, See For Yourself: Vision and Older Adults. Another helpful low vision resource is provided by thru the Australian Lions web site. Have a look!
Spanish Materials
NEHEP also has a Spanish language eye health program, Ojo Con Su Visión. Check out their website to find materials in Spanish.
Infant Eye Screening Program
The American Optometric Association offers a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide. Through the InfantSee program, optometrists offer a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life, usually between the ages of 6 and 12 months. This program offers early detection of potential eye and vision problems at no cost regardless of income or ability to pay.
LEHP Sponsors
LEHP is made possible through grants from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, Allergan Inc, and Eli Lilly and Co.
Regular Website Under Construction
We appreciate your patience as we work to update the main Lions Eye Health Program Web site, www.lehp.org. If you are in need of LEHP resources, such as brochures or the CD-ROM Toolkit, please contact Gina Prendki by e-mail or phone at 630-571-5466, ext. 664.
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