Members of the Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club spent part of this week conducting eye exams for the students of Springdale Elementary School.

“It’s great,” said Springdale Principal Hope Vrana of the Lions Club effort to administer eye tests.

She also said the eye screening is “efficient and effective.”

“It allows us to get the screening done in a short period of time,” Vrana said. And the sooner the eye exams can be completed, the more time it allows for classroom instruction.

Bill Mooneyhan of the Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club said the club goes to all Lexington 2 schools and performs eye exams. And the exams have an impact.

“More than 500 students were examined at Springdale Elementary and three in 20 students have some sort of issue with their eyes that requires more attention,” Mooneyhan said.

And this year there is something different. The Lions Club is using new equipment that has helped expedite the process.

“This is the first time we’ve used this new technology,” said Mooneyhan. “It has reduced the amount of time it takes for the exams by two days.”

Springdale Nurse Jennie Bingham said that testing sessions that used to take 30 minutes, can now be done in 10-to-15 minutes.

Bingham also said not only does the eye screening effort provide a benefit to vision health, it is an example of community service. She lauded “the community atmosphere” surrounding the Lions Club’s involvement at the school.