Free Vision Screenings in Aurora Help Local Preschooler See Clearly and Detects Eye Cancer in Adult
When Joe and Michelle noticed their 4-year-old daughter Brinley holding books closer and resting her head while coloring, they were concerned. The next day, a note came home from her Creative Play Pre-K class at the Fox Valley Park District’s Eola Community Center about free vision screenings offered through a partnership with the Aurora Lions Club.
The timing felt meant to be.
Brinley was screened Jan. 30, referred for follow-up care, and within two weeks was diagnosed with nearsightedness and prescribed glasses. Her parents now report seeing more confident responses from their daughter. “Absolutely follow up if something doesn’t look quite right,” said Kouba.
From Jan. 26 through Feb. 17, Lions Club volunteers screened 178 preschoolers ages 2–5 at five park district sites. Eighteen children were referred for follow-up care. The non-invasive screening takes less than three seconds and can detect common vision risk factors years before Illinois requires a comprehensive eye exam in kindergarten.
Early detection can prevent learning and behavioral challenges. “We don’t know what kids can’t see — and they don’t know any better,” said Lions Club member Susan Koepke.
The screenings have proven life-changing for adults as well. In 2021, a free screening at Blackberry Farm led Recreation Supervisor Laureen Baumgartner to seek follow-up care that ultimately detected a small cancerous tumor. Today, she is cancer-free.
Last summer Fox Valley Park District recreation supervisor Laureen Baumgartner
was working at Blackberry Farm, a children’s farm and living history museum in Aurora. Events included adult eye and hearing exams in a mobile unit provided by the Lions
of Illinois Foundation and hosted by Aurora Lions Club. 
Based on her vision screening, Baumgartner was advised to seek follow up care. Her doctors diagnosed ocular melanoma--cancer. Baumgartner received proton therapy that eradicated the cancer.
Baumgartner said, “Because of the Aurora Lions Club’s vision screening, cancer was detected early—and that early detection made all the difference.”
She learned later that a friend was diagnosed with eye cancer but did not catch it early enough for treatment and lost vision in an eye.
Baumgartner continues annual eye exams. Age-related cataracts will require treatment.
Aurora Lions conduct free vision exams for children aged 6 months to 16 on the third Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Santori Aurora Public Library in Aurora. Special vision and hearing exams are offered in a mobile unit provided by the Lions of Illinois Foundation.
Trained Lions volunteers use a handheld Plusoptix S12 camera to check eye health of children for near-sightedness, far-sightedness, blurred vision, lazy eye, eye misalignment, unequal refractive power and cataracts or corneal scars.
For more information about the Aurora Lions Club and vision screening opportunities, contact Susan Koepke at 630-715-5618
Founded in 1922, Aurora Lions Club is celebrating its second century of community service.
For more about Aurora Lions Club, call (630) 707-2870 or visit auroralionsclub.org.
Lions International is the largest service club organization in the world. Approximately 1.42 million members in more than 48,000 clubs serve in 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.
