LifeSight

In May 2012 supported by a strategic group of collaborative partners including area eye care professionals school nurses and local Lions clubs LifeSight formerly Northern Plains Eye Foundation launched Northern Plains Eye Foundation Western South Dakota Lions Childrens Vision Screening Initiative CVSI now know as KidsFIRST Free Vision Screenings. While only an eye care professional can diagnose and treat a vision problem vision screenings identify children whose vision problems might otherwise remain undetected who are referred to an eye care professional for a complete eye exam. Through this program children across the Black Hills region from 6 months of age through 5th grade have access to free vision screenings. KidsFIRST vision screenings are administered utilizing SPOT photoscreening technology a non-invasive approach to obtain comprehensive accurate vision screenings results in order to provide early detection of poor vision or risk factors by way of uniform screening processes that lead to timely diagnosis and treatment. KidsFIRST vision screening results are provided to parents of all children. In the case of children recommended for a complete eye exam additional information is provided about why the child is being referred to an eye care professional the meaning of eye conditions identified on the screening result and a list of eye care professionals in the region. As of May 2023 LifeSight has administered over 50,000 KidsFIRST Free Vision Screenings since program inception. Of those children screened 13.5% - in excess of 6,800 had results which identified potential risk factors that may inhibit proper vision development and have been referred for a comprehensive eye exam. With KidsFIRST free vision screening early detection effective treatment is usually possible. If left untreated children are at risk of permanent vision loss affecting among other things issues such as childhood development academic achievement and high school drop-out rates. Beginning in the fall of 2014 LifeSight was afforded the opportunity to engage a 4th year medical student at The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and a partnering optometric intern from the Illinois College of Optometry in a research project related to LifeSights KidsFIRST Vision Screenings.The research project culminated in the publication of a manuscript entitled "Results of a Pediatric Vision Screening Program in Western South Dakota" in the March 2015 edition of "South Dakota Medicine," the South Dakota State Medical Association medical journal. Since that time LifeSight continues to engage medical students at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in ongoing volunteer research projects many of the projects related to KidsFIRST Vision Screenings. See remainder of this program activity description in other section of Schedule "O".

Gift of Sight a charitable program launched in 2008 as Christmas Gift of Sight awards sight-saving surgery to individuals without the financial means to afford the necessary care. In 2015 LifeSight expanded its Christmas Gift of Sight program from annual to semi-annual surgery awards and due to this in 2017 renamed the program "Gift of Sight". In 2018 the Gift of Sight service area was expanded from eye care clinics and their patients in the Black Hills of South Dakota to include eye care clinics and their patients located east of Rapid City in the Mobridge Pierre Winner all in South Dakota and Chadron Nebraska communities. Since its inception LifeSight and its program partners have provided 100 sight-saving surgeries through Gift of Sight helping those underserved in our community regain their vision and most importantly independence mobility and quality of life.