The District 2-A2 Lions Club Convention in San Antonio May 10-12 brought some distinguished visitors to the Lions Low Vision Center.

Located in the School of Allied Health Sciences Building on the Health Science Center’s Greehey Academic and Research Campus, the Lions Low Vision Center is a partnership between Lions Club International and the Health Science Center’s Schools of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. The center provides low-vision evaluation, resources and rehabilitation for people whose eyesight cannot be corrected by traditional means, such as surgery and eyeglasses.

Visitors

Dean William Henrich (L-R), Kay Fukushima, Denise Fukushima, Dr. Sandra Fox, Melva Perez, Chris Condren and Ray Conner visit at the Lions Low Vision Center.
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The visitors May 10 included Lions Club International President Kay K. Fukushima and his wife, Denise, who live in Sacramento, Calif. Fukushima presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lions Low Vision Center in 2002.

Among other Lions Club visitors were District 2-A2 Governor Ray Conner, Cabinet Treasurer Chris Condren, District Leadership Co-chair LaJuana Newnam-Leus and Past Council Chair Mike Rourke.

Meeting with center staff
After being welcomed by Marilyn Harrington, Ph.D., and William Henrich, M.D., M.A.C.P., deans of the Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Medicine, respectively, the visitors received a tour of the center.

They also met with center Director Sandra Fox, O.D., clinical assistant professor in the department of ophthalmology, and Melva Perez, O.T.R., M.B.A., C.L.V.T., clinical assistant professor in the department of occupational therapy. Dr. Fox, a low-vision specialist, diagnoses the extent of a patient’s vision loss. Perez then teaches patients how to use various aids to help them regain as much independence as possible.

“We are very hopeful that we will be able to expand our service in the near future,” Dr. Fox said. “We see patients from all over the state — Austin, Laredo, Harlingen, McAllen and Dallas. We also serve as a resource center for clinics from all over the country. We’ve had calls from the University of Houston and California, not only regarding patients, but how our clinic is set up.”

Collaboration
The center opened in 2003 with the help of a $200,000 grant from Lions Club International and additional funding from the Lions of Texas and the Lions Sight Research Foundation, part of Lions District 2-A2. The district is a 21-county region that covers San Antonio and parts of South and Central Texas.

Lions Club International President Kay Fukushima visits with School of Allied Health Sciences Dean Marilyn Harrington, Ph.D.

“This is an example of how, if we really want to do something, we can,” Dean Harrington said. “This center is here because of Jim Wheeler (president and chief operating officer of the Lions Sight Research Foundation). He was our spirit. He always came up with new dreams, if one of them fell by the wayside.”

Fukushima added, “I have been listening to what you all have been saying and you have paid the Lions the best compliment. You all keep saying ‘we serve.’ Well, you know that the Lion’s Club motto is ‘We serve.’ What you people are doing on campus is magnificent. You’re doing a great job here.”