Patch Picks: The Eyes Have It

During the fall, when leaves start to change color and beauty is all around us, it's even more important to take care of your vision so you can share in the wonder of the harvest season.

has optometrists and opticians on staff to help you with any eye problems you may be having.

also has Board Certified Ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) to provide routine exams, glasses and contact lenses as well as medical and surgical treatment of all eye diseases.

Has a wide variety of eyeglasses and frames, in addition to an optician on staff to help you get the right glasses.

and have a variety of eye drops and reading glasses for temporary relief of squinting at print that has become suddenly too small to read.

The was founded on April 29, 1955, as a charter part of the world's largest service organization, Lions Club International, which was founded in 1917 when Helen Keller charged club members to be "knights of the blind to challenge the darkness."That started the Lions Club mission of collecting used eyeglasses and refurbishing them for those who need them in Third World countries. "We've been collecting over 800 pair of eyeglasses a month," said Craig Fetters, Lions Club treasurer.

(Ed. Note: In an earlier verision of this article, we incorrectly stated the is staffed by optometrists. There is a significant difference between ophthalmologists and optometrists, according to Dr. James Rizen, a practicing ophthalmologist at Eye Clinic of Mercer Island: "Ophthalmologists go to medical school for four years and then do a hospital based medical internship for one year followed by a three-year residency in ophthalmology and eye surgery (and sometimes an additional one to two year fellowship). Optometrists (ODs) are not Medical Doctors. They do not go to medical school. They are not physicians (despite the misuse of the term "optometric physicians" in this state). They are not licensed to perform surgery on the eye.")