Through SightFirst, Lions are changing the world. Lions' SightFirst program has saved or restored sight to 27 million people around the world and improved eyecare for more than 100 million people. Here are just a few of those people's stories:

In Tapachula, Mexico, Estella Gonzales made her living as a seamstress sewing school uniforms each day, carefully following the seams with her sewing machine. Estella Gonzales did not make much money at her job, but what she earned clothed and fed her family.

However, unlike many of us, there was no access to an eye exam and more importantly no money for glasses. Through SightFirst, Lions were able to help Estella and her family. Her eyeglasses were provided by a SightFirst-funded eyeglass distribution center in her small village.

“I came to get an eye exam and eyeglasses from the Lions. I’m very thankful the Lions have given me these glasses,” said Gonzales. “They will provide a better life for my family.”

In Maryland, USA, Georgia Cawley’s vision became so bad, that she was unable to read the bills, letters and other mail she received. The simple act of going to her mailbox everyday became a task she dreaded.

“It was terrible not being able to read the mail. Every day, I would go out to the mailbox and just hold this pile of papers and just had no idea what they said.”

Because of Lions’ vision, she received the low-vision assistance and technology to help her read and remain independent.

In Africa, Dukarui Otunno suffered from the blinding effects of trachoma. Repeated eye infections scarred the undersides of his eyelids, causing his eyelashes to turn in and scratch the delicate surface of his eyes. After years of this painful condition, his scarred eyes were gradually clouded.

Thanks to SightFirst, he received a sight-saving trichiasis surgery to reverse the effects of repeated and painful infections. Because of a SightFirst-funded trichiasis, he can see again, an experience he describes in such awe as “being reborn.”

In India, Adabala Lakshmi Narasamha’s world became foggy and blurred by cataract. Besides losing her independence, she could no longer see the young smiling face of her grandchild.

Because of Lions and SightFirst, she received a cataract surgery that returned joy to her life. “I’m very happy to get back my eyesight, I can see clearly, like my early days. God bless the Lions for the noble work they are doing.”

Cataract is responisble for nearly 50 percent of the world's blindness. Currently, 18 million people suffer from cataract. To date Lions have funded more than 7,000,000 cataract surgeries through the SightFirst program. The 7,000,000th cataract surgery occurred at a Lions' eye Hospital in Miraj, a town in the Sangli District in the Maharashtra State, on the west coast of India. The patient was Vasant Pandharinath Hawal, age 60, a local farmer by trade. He heard of the SightFirst cataract screening services when a publicity van for the hospital came to his town.

“Now I can read the newspaper again. My life is better because I see clearly again,” Hawal said. “Before the surgery, I was unable to do household work. I have Lions to thank for the restoration of my eyesight.”

Today, millions of individuals around the world have had their lives changed and words of thanks because of Lions' SightFirst program. To share seven of these touching stories, order CSFII's "Faces of SightFirst" DVD.

E-mail csfii@lionsclubs.org to order
copies free of charge.