Pella Regional Health Center and the Lions Clubs of New Sharon and Pella are offering free vision screenings for children, from 6 months old through kindergarten today.

The screenings will be conducted by Iowa KidSight, a service project of the Lions Club of Iowa, in Conference Room A&B at the hospital from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Parents should enter with their children through the northeast side of the hospital at entrance 5 or 6.

The screenings are designed to provide early detection and treatment of vision impairments in Iowa’s young children. After the screenings are complete, results are interpreted by specialist with the UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. If a potential vision problem is detected, parents or guardians receive a letter of referral as well as a list of local ophthalmologists and optometrists. To ensure there are no obstacles in getting to an eye care professional and to ensure the screening program is referring appropriately, follow-up will be conducted for any child being referred.