By screening the vision and hearing of professional drivers, Chennai Balaji Padmavathi Lions Club brought an overlooked road-safety concern into focus.
A driver depends on clear vision to read road signs, judge distances, distinguish colors and respond quickly to obstacles. Yet safe driving also depends on something that receives far less attention: the ability to hear a horn, siren or warning sound amid the constant noise of city traffic.
Recognizing that road safety involves more than eyesight, Chennai Balaji Padmavathi Lions Club, District 3241E, organized ‘Vision & Vital Senses 2026—A Clearer View of the Road Ahead’ on August 30, 2026. The preventive healthcare initiative brought together ophthalmology and ENT specialists to screen professional drivers and members of their families.
Held at Murali Eye Clinic & Opticals in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, the four-and-a-half-hour camp examined four of the five senses—vision, hearing, smell and taste. Its broader approach distinguished it from conventional eye camps centered primarily on detecting refractive errors and prescribing spectacles.
Professional drivers spend long hours on the road, often exposed to continuous traffic noise, vehicle horns and engine sounds. Their work schedules can also make it difficult to seek preventive healthcare. The initiative was designed to identify concerns early and provide beneficiaries with a clear path to further treatment.
The ophthalmic screening included vision assessment, refraction, color-vision testing, clinical eye examination, intraocular pressure measurement and dry-eye evaluation. Fundus examinations were conducted for beneficiaries with diabetes or hypertension, along with non-mydriatic fundus photography.
The ENT component covered examination of the ears, nose, throat and neck, along with hearing screening and basic audiometry.
The results underlined the value of combining the two disciplines.
While the screening did not establish the causes of the hearing loss, the findings made a compelling case for including hearing assessments in preventive healthcare programs for professional drivers.
Six beneficiaries were referred for surgery: two for cataract procedures, two for ear surgeries and two for tonsil surgeries. The camp thus served as a diagnostic and referral platform, helping participants understand their conditions and the treatment they required.
All screenings and medical services were provided free of charge. The ₹22,000- project cost covered audiometry, blood sugar testing materials, equipment hire for fundus examinations, publicity and operational expenses. In all, the program drew 51 attendees, including beneficiaries, volunteers and supporting staff.
Among the 30 beneficiaries screened, 19 required spectacle correction. More strikingly, 21 beneficiaries—70 percent of those examined—were found to require hearing aids.
Among the 30 beneficiaries screened, 19 required spectacle correction. More strikingly, 21 beneficiaries—70 percent of those examined—were found to require hearing aids.
Club President Dr. Saranya Chithra, a consultant at Chitras ENT Hospital, led the initiative. Chitras ENT Hospital, Nungambakkam, conducted the ENT examinations, hearing tests and audiometry, while Murali Eye Clinic & Opticals provided comprehensive ophthalmic screening. Lion Ranganathan, District Coordinator for Medical Camps, attended as special guest.
The impact of the project extended beyond the immediate screening. Ten MBBS doctors received practical training in basic examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, while 10 Leo volunteers helped manage the camp and assist participants.
By looking beyond eyesight and bringing hearing into the road-safety conversation, the initiative revealed a need that might otherwise have remained undetected. For the drivers and families who attended, it offered more than a check-up: it provided answers, referrals and an opportunity to act before a health concern became more serious.