By Tim Wagner
Joe and Michelle Kouba had just been talking about subtle changes they were noticing in four-year-old daughter, Brinley. She was holding books closer to her face. She colored with her head resting on the table. Small things — but enough to spark some concern.
Ironically, the very next day, a note came home from preschool.
Brinley, a student in Mrs. Johnson’s and Ms Abby’s Creative Play Pre-K class at Fox Valley Park District’s Eola Community Center, brought home information about free vision screenings being offered through a new partnership with the Aurora Lions Club.
“Well, that’s convenient timing,” Joe Kouba recalls thinking. “We said, let’s see if there’s something actually wrong or if she’s four and just being silly.”
The January 30 screening results recommended follow-up care. And less than two weeks later, Brinley — who turns five next month — was diagnosed with nearsightedness and prescribed glasses.
Already, her parents see a difference.
“She’s only 4, but we’re getting better, more confident responses when we ask if things are clearer for her,” Joe says. “Absolutely follow up if you’re told something doesn’t look quite right.”
From January 26 through February 17, Lions Club volunteers provided free vision screenings to two through five-year-olds enrolled in FVPD’s Creative Play and Nature Play Preschool programs. Screenings were conducted at five sites: Prisco and Eola community centers, Vaughan Athletic Center, Blackberry Farm, and Red Oak Nature Center — making the service convenient and accessible for families.
For Deedee Buscher, FVPD’s preschool program manager, the value of screening at such an early age is clear.
“When a child can’t see, that’s when you start finding learning problems and behavioral issues,” Buscher says. “This screening can help in so many ways. Anything you do to help your children when they’re young is the best gift you can give them.”
Early detection makes a difference
Parents first learned of the opportunity through a letter headlined, “Free Vision Screening Opportunity for Your Child,” outlining the non-intrusive nature of the screening and why early detection matters. The screening is non-invasive and non-diagnostic; it’s designed to identify common risk factors such as near- and farsightedness, astigmatism, unequal refractive power (often associated with “lazy eye”), unequal pupil size, and eye misalignment. In total, 178 FVPD preschoolers were screened, with an average age of 3.9 years. Eighteen referrals were issued, meaning a potential issue was detected and follow-up care was strongly recommended. The Lions Club partners with Midwestern University Eye Institute for referrals, though families are free to consult their own physicians.
The classroom screening itself takes less than three seconds per child.
Each student sits about three feet from a trained volunteer, who positions a handheld device – specifically the Plusoptix S20 – featuring a smiley-face display to capture and keep the child’s attention. In under a second, the device uses infrared imaging to analyze both eyes simultaneously. Results are printed instantly and sent home in a packet that includes educational materials and referral information if needed.
“The printout gives the doctor a beautiful baseline,” says Lions member Jay Short.
Illinois law requires children to submit proof of a comprehensive eye exam by mid-October of their kindergarten year. This initiative, however, catches potential concerns as early as age three, two years sooner than required.
“We don’t know what kids can’t see — and they don’t know any better,” said Susan Koepke, Lions Club member and co-chair of the club’s Children’s Vision Health Program. “So many parents don’t realize how important early detection is. We want to make it easy.”
A mission rooted in service
Vision has been central to Lions Club International since 1925, when Helen Keller challenged members to become “knights of the blind.” Today, the organization is one of the world’s largest service networks, with clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas. The Aurora Lions Club is entirely volunteer-driven, and its members see screenings as part of a broader effort that includes education, awareness, and follow-up care.
The impact of that commitment extends beyond preschool classrooms. The group offers free screenings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every third Saturday in the Santori Library’s Children’s Center in downtown Aurora.
In June 2021, during a “Free Museum Day” at FVPD’s Blackberry Farm, Lions Club volunteers offered vision screenings from a mobile unit in the parking lot. Recreation Supervisor Laureen Baumgartner decided to participate — even though she had no symptoms.
“I didn’t know anything was wrong,” said Baumgartner, 62. “My eyes felt fine and I could see clearly.”
A month later, she received a letter recommending follow-up care. A specialist monitored an abnormality for more than a year before a summer 2023 test revealed a small cancerous tumor — choroidal melanoma. She underwent surgery to place tiny metallic markers on her eye, followed by precision proton beam radiation.
Today, Baumgartner is cancer free. She sees a specialist every three months and manages some side effects with daily eye drops.
“I wouldn’t have gotten tested until my vision was impacted,” she says. “I was lucky — right place, right time. Get your eyes checked if you haven’t in awhile.”
For more information about the Aurora Lions Club and vision screening opportunities, contact Susan Koepke at 630-715-5618, or stop by the Santori Library at 101 S. River St., where screenings are conducted in the Children’s Center from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every third Saturday of the month.
Tim Wagner is the PR and content strategist for the Fox Valley Park District, Aurora