Eye Exam 1

Lions offer second opportunity for eye exams and glasses for fire victims

Female optician examining senior patient's vision with phoropter

People displaced by the Sevier County wildfires at the end of November have another opportunity for a free eye exam and free eyeglasses, thanks to Smoky Mountain Lions Charities.  Because of the extraordinary amount of interest during a similar event held January 28, 2017 at the Boyd’s Bear facility in Pigeon Forge, organizers have decided to repeat the process.  Fire victims that responded to the January clinic were the recipients of 63 eye exams and 59 pairs of glasses.

The charities’ mobile vision lab will be set up on Saturday, March 11 at First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg where fully trained eye care professionals will conduct eye tests between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. They will draw up new prescriptions and conduct thorough tests including those for glaucoma.  Eyeglasses based on the new prescriptions will be distributed about two weeks later, at times to be set up with patients on March 11.

It will take an estimated 45 minutes to an hour for patients to undergo testing and to choose new frames. No reservations are required, but would be preferred so that patients can be contacted should there be a change of venue or schedule. Please call Jim at 865-556-9091 for an appointment or more information.

First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg is located at 111 Oglewood Lane in Gatlinburg, TN off of Highway 321.

“We’re extremely happy that Smoky Mountain Lions Charities is choosing to provide this service yet again to victims of Sevier County’s fires,” said Mary Vance, executive director of Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, which provides medical and dental care to Sevier County residents who lack health insurance.