Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® (Vision/Eye Health)
A discipline of Healthy Athletes, the Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes program provides non–dilated vision screenings, refractions, and fabrication of prescription eyewear to Special Olympic athletes. Opening Eyes strives to positively impact the attitudes of the optometrists, ophthalmologist, opticians, eye care professionals, along with optometry students and ophthalmology residents, who volunteer to care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Opening Eyes Clinical Volunteers serve to educate the athletes, their guardians, and coaches about the importance of vision in performance in sports, school, and work. Through generous donations from our corporate sponsors, Safilo who provides frames, and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation who provides lenses, athletes will receive appropriate eyewear at the culmination of the screening.
The Opening Eyes screening does NOT replace a comprehensive eye exam, which includes dilation. Unified partners are not eligible to receive eyewear. Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and guardians should be aware of this when present at the screening.
For more information, please contact us at openingeyes@specialolympics.org
The Opening Eyes screening does NOT replace a comprehensive eye exam, which includes dilation. Unified partners are not eligible to receive eyewear. Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and guardians should be aware of this when present at the screening.
For more information, please contact us at openingeyes@specialolympics.org
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- Marketing and Communications
- Clinical Directors
- Volunteer Management
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Event Resources and Equipment
A discipline of Healthy Athletes, the Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes program provides non–dilated vision screenings, refractions, and fabrication of prescription eyewear to Special Olympic athletes. Opening Eyes strives to positively impact the attitudes of the optometrists, ophthalmologist, opticians, eye care professionals, along with optometry students and ophthalmology residents, who volunteer to care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Opening Eyes Clinical Volunteers serve to educate the athletes, their guardians, and coaches about the importance of vision in performance in sports, school, and work. Through generous donations from our corporate sponsors, Safilo who provides frames, and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation who provides lenses, athletes will receive appropriate eyewear at the culmination of the screening.
The Opening Eyes screening does NOT replace a comprehensive eye exam, which includes dilation. Unified partners are not eligible to receive eyewear. Athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and guardians should be aware of this when present at the screening.
For more information, please contact us at openingeyes@specialolympics.org
- Partnerships
- Health Professional Resources
- Additional Related Resources
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Fact Sheets Global (PDF)
- Fact Sheets United States (PDF)
- Discipline Specific Branding Materials
- T-Shirt for US Events (PDF)
- T-Shirt for non US Events (PDF)
- Clinical Director Polo (optional) for US Events (PDF)
- Clinical Director Polo (optional) for non US Events (PDF)
- Health Branding and Graphics
- See all stories related to this discipline.
CLINICAL DIRECTORS
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Clinical Director Role (webpage)
Special Olympics Clinical Directors are volunteer professionals who are responsible for working with their local Special Olympics Program and other volunteer health professionals in coordinating the local Healthy Athletes Program. - Clinical Director Application Questionnaire (DOCX)
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Opening Eyes Clinical Director Overview (video)
Opening Eyes Clinical Director overview. - Clinical Director Manual (PDF)
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
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Volunteer with Healthy Athletes
Join the more than 90,000 health care providers and students worldwide who have volunteered with the Healthy Athletes program. - Volunteer Certificate (DOCX)
EVENT RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT
HAS
Legal Forms
Equipment and Supply List
Athlete and Caregiver Resources
Event Planning Materials
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HAS Form (webpage)
The Healthy Athletes System (HAS) enables the electronic capture of screening data across the Healthy Athletes disciplines.
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Equipment and Supply List (PDF)
Printing needs, general and electrical supplies, screening materials, miscellaneous. - Station Signage (ZIP)
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Product Needs Form (PNF)
Please use this link to order equipment for your Program.
- Content coming soon
PARTNERSHIPS
- LCIF, Safilo & OneSight Essilor Luxottica Foundation Guidelines (Coming Soon)
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
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CONTINUING EDUCATION LECTURES
- (1) Shedding a Light on Eyecare & Health Disparities for Those with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
- (2) Common Visual Impairments in Those with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
- (3) Refractive Error & Strabismus & Amblyopia, Oh My!
- (4) The Cardiovascular System, Ocular Disease, and the Impact on Those with IDD
- (5) Myopia Management: Is it Possible for Those with IDD?
- (6) Therapeutics For Those with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: "Just Say Yes"
- (7) I Want to Help Those with Intellectual Disabilities: Now What?
- (8) Unique Aspects of Caring for Those with Intellectual Disabilities
- OE - Eye Connect: Virtual Opening Eyes (webpage)
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Health Professional Training
Take free eLearning courses to learn how to treat people with intellectual disabilities -
How to Speak with People with Disabilities (video)
Whether you are in a health care or other professional environment or just having a personal conversation, consider these basic rules for communicating with a person with an intellectual disability. Download - Working with Special Olympics Athletes (PDF)
ADDITIONAL RELATED RESOURCES
- Healthy Athletes event photos worldwide
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Inclusive Health Opening Eyes (video)
Globally, 35% of our athletes need new prescription glasses & 23% have never had an eye exam. Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes® provides free eye assessments for Special Olympics athletes.