Special Olympics – Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes The mission of Special Olympics – Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes® is to improve the quality of life for the millions of individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities by optimizing their vision, eye health and visual skills through quality eye care. Objectives of Opening Eyes include providing screenings to Special Olympics athletes (see schedule of events); educating athletes, parents and coaches about the importance of regular eye care; educating and changing attitudes of eye care professionals about the vision care needs of persons with intellectual disabilities worldwide; and increasing knowledge of visual and eye health needs of persons with intellectual disabilities through research. Opening Eyes Resources NEW! Special Olympics, Lions Clubs launch Global Vision Curriculum 2006 Schedule of Events Are you a health care professional interested in learning more about Opening Eyes? Are you a trained Opening Eyes Clinical Director who needs forms and information? List of Clinical Directors Through a grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the partnership of Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International is dramatically expanding the effort's scope. The formal partnership encompasses sustained continuous vision screening programs across the world, as well as the development of Train-the-Trainer sessions to create a strong volunteer force of vision health professionals (see list of clinical directors). The partnership enables Opening Eyes to reach one of the world's most underserved population — those with intellectual disabilities. In November 2002 Essilor International became the official global supplier of ophthalmic lenses to and a sponsor of the Opening Eyes program. Paris-based Essilor International offers a wide range of lenses under the flagship Varilux®, Crizal®, Airwear® and Essilor brands to correct myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism. At the beginning of 2003, The Sàfilo Group, one of the world's leading producers of optical glasses, sunglasses and eyewear for sports, joined the Opening Eyes team, agreeing to supply free optical frames and sunglasses. Over the next three years, Sàfilo will donate 11,000 frames and 20,000 sunglasses annually and is already working to give Special Olympics and Opening Eyes support in various other ways, including promotional material and special press releases.  With the help of the World Council of Optometry and other organizations, Special Olympics has been able to establish Opening Eyes initiatives in North America, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, China and the Asia Pacific region. The partnership is making a major contribution to vision health in developing nations, reaching people with intellectual disabilities whose needs have gone unmet, while raising the level of the public's vision health in general. Contact Information David Evangelista, Manager, Healthy Athletes, at +1 (202) 628-3630 or devangelista@specialolympics.org.   Special Olympics – Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Sponsors:           Lions Clubs International           Essilor           Sàfilo           Liberty Optical Learn more about these components of the Healthy Athletes initiative: Fit Feet FUNfitness Health Promotion Healthy Hearing Special Smiles