In 1942, a group of Lions Club members from Memphis, with the cooperation of local ophthalmologists and hospitals, formed an organization whose sole purpose was to provide help to needy people in mid-America who had sight deficiencies. This group was known as the Mid-South Sight Conservation Association.

Since that time, the organization has grown to become the Mid-South Lions Sight And Hearing Service. As a federally registered not for profit organization, our main service areas include the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Our main clinic is located in the Methodist Hospital Central in Memphis. Currently, we have two other facilities in Memphis: Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the Hamilton Eye Institute . The Lions have also made agreements with facilities in Rogers, Arkansas (Boozman Hof Regional Eye Center) and St. Mary's Hospital; Dr. Tom Wallace (Wallace Eye Clinic) and St. Joseph's Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Dr. Ifanye Orizu (Orizu Eye Clinic) and Phelps County Hospital in Rolla, Missouri; Dr. Bill Ashford (Ashford Eye Clinic) in Jackson, Mississippi; and Drs. Judge, Rawlins and Thurber (Mississippi Eye Surgery Center) in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

With collaborations with area medical professionals who donate their professional services, the University of Tennessee Ophthalmology's resident program, Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and our other medical facilities and the Lions of the four state area, Mid-South Lions is able to provide about five dollars in service for each dollar spent on patient care.

As in 1942, Mid-South Lions does not accept government funding. Most of our financing comes from Lions Clubs, Foundations and Corporate Partners, Individuals and Special Events.

And to this day, Mid-South Lions Sight And Hearing Service provides all of its services at NO CHARGE to the patient. Participating Lions Clubs provide transportation and eyeglasses. All other charges are provided by Mid-South Lions.