Opening Eyes Program

The Eye Care Planning Group of Lions Clubs International for Special Olympics was established in 1989, under the recommendation from the Sports Vision Group of the American Society of Refractive Surgery. The Sports Vision Group of the American Society of Refractive Surgery is composed of over 500 doctors of optometry who are interested in sports vision. The job of the Sports Vision Group is to perform vision screening on athletes in some sporting events, such as American Olympics Festival, Olympics Games, and Youth Olympics etc.

During the 1991 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Minneapolis, the American Society of Refractive Surgery collaborated with Special Olympics International on the first screening. The 1995 World Summer Games apparently improved clinical treatment quality and changed the attitude of SOLCIOE volunteers. We exult at the big smiles on the faces of athletes when they put on new glasses. The improvement of athletes’ visions through our efforts has given doctors, families and other people participating in the Special Olympics Games the biggest satisfaction.

In the summer of 2000, the Lions Clubs International Foundation established the global partnership with the Special Olympics International.

Goals of this Plan
1. Clinical Treatment:
It is the major mission of this plan to provide clinical treatment to Special Olympics athletes. The athletes and other people with intellectual disabilities is a disadvantaged group. Our research indicated that 66% of the athletes have not accepted vision examination within the past three years and 37% need new or different types of glasses. In the athletes that were screened, many of them received vision correction for the very first time. Our research also found that 18% of the athletes have health issues for their eyes – among them 11% have relatively severe problems. These athletes received suggestions for further treatment.

2. Research:
It is an important part of our vision plan to keep updating and increasing the knowledge about the requirements for vision and eye health protection by people with intellectual disabilities. 0
During screening, we recorded and analyzed results from 12 non-destructive examinations. If athletes needed optometry, more thorough examinations would then be conducted, and glasses, protective glasses and personal visual function reports will be provided to them free of charge. We would also advise athletes to seek further treatment when necessary.

In order to continuously develop this plan, new examination techniques are being evaluated and added. During each screening, we all tried hard to improve the health protection system for this population. So far, three research papers based on SOLCIOE screening data have been published on the Journal of American Society of Optometrists, which are among the most thorough papers regarding vision research on people with intellectual disabilities.

3. Increase of Treatment Opportunities:
A good vision is very important for a person’s sports activity, life and work. One of Special Olympic International’s goals is to help people with intellectual disabilities realize their potential. A good vision is the foundation to achieve this goal. Vision correction through optometry is unique, which can ensure that athletes possess healthy eyes and good vision.

One of our plan’s goals is to make athletes’ families and coaches realize the importance of regular vision examination. This special population has a higher incidence rate for some visual problems, such as high myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism; consequently, they have higher requirements for eye health protection.

Our research indicated that 18% of Special Olympics athletes have improper glasses. There are many causes for such a phenomenon, one of which is the lack of eye health protection service. There are many arguments about the examination on people with intellectual disabilities. Such a viewpoint exists in some doctors that people with intellectual disabilities don’t need accurate refractive prescriptions since they don’t read, drive, or use computers. Another reason for the lack of eye health protection is that people with intellectual disabilities never complain about improper glasses.

The purpose of setting up SOLCIOE is to provide diagnosis and treatment on site, and give athletes and their families more knowledge on the necessity of regular eye health protection examination. Such a purpose is achieved through training oculists to perform SOLCIOE screening in their respective locations. When the eye health protection plan has become a part of Special Olympics in all places, we hope that everyone would acquire a deeper understanding, and expand the service scope beyond athletes. We need to make sure that potential athletes for Special Olympics obtain needed service.

4. Training:
During each activity, trainings with special topics as continuing education should be offered to further familiarize doctors with necessary information regarding the best visual health protection for this population.

Another equally important thing is to completely enjoy the time spending together with intellectually disabled people, which can change your viewpoint. Under many circumstances, the attitude of volunteers changed from pity to acceptance, sometimes even respect. As a result, doctors take new knowledge and viewpoints back to his colleagues and environment.

One research by our principal researcher, Dr. Sandra Block, showed that the service attitude of volunteers turned better through the participation in the eye health protection plan. Besides, many volunteers thanked us for allowing them to take part in such activities, as many beautiful memories were added to their professional lives.