Book Reveals How Olympic Gold Winner Beat Keratoconus

World renowned eye surgeon Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler will donate the proceeds from his book, How We Conquered Keratoconus,to the Special Olympics. Dr. Boxer Wachler is best known for inventing the Holcomb C3-R procedure to treat American bobsledder Steven Holcomb’s keratoconus. The book also details experiences of those whose vision was saved by the Holcomb C3-R. Read more.

Free Eye Exams for Special Olympians

For many, seeing well can be a struggle, especially when it comes to people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Approximately two percent of the global population, almost 200 million people, has ID and some estimates suggest that up to 40 percent of these individuals are also affected by some type of vision loss or abnormality. In light of this startling statistic, VSP Vision Care (VSP), the nation's leading not-for-profit vision care company, is announcing the "Send a High Five" campaign, a program that will provide comprehensive vision exams, critical follow-up eyecare and related services and materials for up to 50,000 Special Olympics athletes across the United States, a total donation valued at $43 million. Read more.

Safilo Continues Support of Special Olympics

Safilo’s eight-year support of Opening Eyes continues to expand, specifically as a visible sponsor at the “2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece from 25th June to 04th July, when 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from more than 170 countries will compete in 22 Olympic-type sports.

As the global supplier of the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes vision care program, the company will donate more than 80,000 spectacles and sunglasses.  In addition, Safilo personnel often take an active part in the implementation of the events as volunteers, donating their time and expertise for the benefit of Special Olympics athletes and those with intellectual disabilities. 

 Opening Eyes, part of Special Olympics’ award-winning Healthy Athletes public health initiative, is the largest program in the world dedicated to providing vision care for people with intellectual disabilities. The program was founded by the American Optometric Association’s Sports Vision Section and formally incorporated into the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program in 1997. A generous grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the largest service club in the world, formalized a global partnership and enabled the Opening Eyes program to expand internationally. Read more.