Press Release
For Immediate Release:
Free Child Vision Screening Scheduled
As an adult, we know how we see and if we don’t see things clearly. But do we really know how children see? Can a child tell us that a straight line doesn’t have a sharp, straight edge? Iowa KidSight, a vision screening program of the Lions Clubs of Iowa and the University of IowaStead Family Children’s Hospital Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, will be offering free vision screening for children 6-months of age through kindergarten. The screening will be held at (insert location, date, time).
Starting with the 2015-2016 school year, parents of children entering kindergarten and the third grade will need to provide proof their child has completed an approved vision screening. This requirement, part of a law passed by the Iowa Legislation in 2013 (Senate File 419), is an important step to ensuring all children are seeing properly. Parents will need to supply proof their child has completed a vision screening, similar to providing the school with copies of up-to-date immunization records. An Iowa KidSight screening is one approved option to meet the requirements of this new law.
Iowa KidSight is dedicated to enhancing the early detection and treatment of vision impairments in Iowa’s young children through screening and public education. Free screenings are offered across the state of Iowa. After screenings are complete, the results are interpreted by specialists with the UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. If a potential vision problem is detected, parents or guardians receive a letter of referral as well as a list of local ophthalmologists and optometrists. To ensure there are no obstacles in getting to an eye care professional and to ensure the screening program is referring appropriately, follow-up will be conducted for any child being referred.
Iowa KidSight is a community service project of the Lions Clubs of Iowa. For more information about our screening process, the program, or contacting a Lions Club volunteer to schedule a screening, our web site is
Post Event Press Release
For Immediate Release:
(Insert Date)
(Insert # screened) Children Screened
The (insert club name) provided free vision screenings for (insert # of children) at (insert name of screening location). Iowa KidSight is dedicated to enhancing the early detection and treatment of vision impairments in Iowa’s young children through screening and public education.
Free screenings are offered across the state of Iowa. After screenings are complete, the results are interpreted by specialists with the UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. If a potential vision problem is detected, parents or guardians receive a letter of referral as well as a list of local ophthalmologists and optometrists. To ensure there are no obstacles in getting to an eye care professional and to ensure the screening program is referring appropriately, follow-up will be conducted for any child being referred.
Iowa KidSight is a community service project of the Lions Clubs of Iowa. For more information about our screening process, the program, or contacting a Lions Club volunteer to schedule a screening, our web site is
If you are interested in becoming a member of the local Lions Club, please plan to attend our next meet (insert date, time, location) or contact (insert name of membership director).
Note: Photos of children taken during the screening can only be used if parental consent was given for media use.
Radio Public Service Announcement/Facebook Status Update
Young children are often unable to explain what or how they are seeing. Maybe they’ve never seen the clean crisp lines of a sign or words have always looked fuzzy. The(insert name) Lions Club is offering a free Iowa KidSight vision screening for children six-months of age throughkindergarten on (insert date) at (insert location). A vision screening helps tell us what they cannot.
Thank you (insert screening host) for making this screening possible.