Lions Club of Iceland Donates Two OCT Eye Scanning Cameras

Reykjavik, June 27, 2019.

The Lions Club of Iceland have donated two OCT eye scanning cameras to the University Hospital of Iceland and the Service Center for the Visually Impaired in Reykjavík. These state-of-the-art cameras can detect the onset of diabetic retinopathy, supporting the predictive tool in the Retina Risk App.

The Director of the Hospital ́s diabetes ward, Dr. Rafn Benediktsson, and the Service Center ́s Director, Margrét María Sigurðardóttir, accepted the gifts from the Council Chairperson of Iceland, Björg Bára Halldórsdóttir.

Dr Benediktsson has served the Lions Clubs as an advisor in various roles and most recently advised Lions Clubs International on diabetes prevention matters in Europe.

The Lions Clubs in Iceland and elsewhere have contributed greatly towards improved eye health and service to the visually impaired for over 100 years. Their support has changed the lives of millions around the globe.  We at Retina Risk are extremely proud to collaborate with an organization that has touched the lives of so many in such innovative ways.

The red feather

One of these innovative vehicles is the ‘Red Feather.’  Lions Clubs in Iceland have been selling the red feather since 1972 as a way to raise funds for various causes, including donations of medical equipment to hospitals and other local institutions. It was Helen Keller who brought matters of visual impairment to the attention of Lions members in 1925 and in Iceland, Lions members dedicate the first day of June to her memory and the importance of supporting better eye health.

We look forward to our continued collaboration with Lions Clubs in Iceland and around the globe to help eradicate diabetic blindness, starting with getting the Retina Risk App into the hands of as many people living with diabetes as possible. We are working to do much more for so many people both in Iceland and wordwide.