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. The 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 (see Global Vision Care Curriculum, state-of-the-art science and clinical practice guidelines) increasing knowledge of visual and eye health needs of persons with intellectual disabilities through research. “To be a healthy athlete, one must be able to see the    finish line.”       – Timothy Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, Special Olympics Peru athlete Ivan Navaro, 25, received vision care for the first time in his life. Found to be blind in one eye and with a severe cataract in the other, Navaro was scheduled for follow-up treatment in his home country. He was one of more than 3,200 athletes who benefited from the clinical services offered to every participating athlete.      Some of the most gratifying experiences for clinicians at Opening Eyes screenings are when functionally blind athletes receive new eyeglasses that immediately change their lives and sports experience. Through a grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the partnership of Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International has dramatically expanded the effort's scope (see History of Opening Eyes). 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 health care needs of Special Olympics athletes have been repeatedly demonstrated and are still alarmingly great," said Dr. Paul Berman, Opening Eyes Founder and Senior Global Clinical Advisor, and a Board Member of the American Optometric Association. Research conducted with athletes at Special Olympics events has revealed: 68 percent have had no eye examinations in three years; 37 percent need glasses; and 18 percent of the athletes were wearing clinically incorrect glasses The generous support of the Opening Eyes Partners, who provide time, expertise, supplies such as ophthalmic lenses, optical glasses and frames, sunglasses and sports eyewear, enables Special Olympics to reach and assist more members of one of the world's most underserved population — those with intellectual disabilities. History of Opening Eyes For more information on Opening Eyes, contact David Evangelista, Director, Health Programs, at +1 (202) 824-0314 or devangelista@specialolympics.org .