DALLAS--Essilor of America continues to help athletes around the world through its participation in Essilor International’s partnership with the Special Olympics - Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary, Opening Eyes is the world’s largest program dedicated to providing eyecare for people with intellectual disabilities. Most recently, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, volunteers screened 3,571 athletes in the Opening Eyes program. Twenty percent of those athletes received new prescription eyewear.

“We are honored to impact the lives of so many athletes at the largest event in Special Olympics history,” said John Carrier, EOA president. “Essilor annually donates more than 11,000 polycarbonate Airwear lenses and provides comprehensive services to craft customized eyewear to athletes that need prescription eyewear.”

Research conducted by Special Olympics shows 68 percent of Special Olympics athletes have had no eye examinations in three years or more and that 55 percent are in need of new or modified glasses. Opening Eyes provides vision screenings to Special Olympics athletes as well as educates athletes, parents and coaches about the importance of regular eyecare. The program also strives to change the attitudes of eyecare professionals about the vision care needs of persons with intellectual disabilities. Opening Eyes uses research to increase the knowledge of visual and eye health needs of persons with intellectual disabilities.

As the official global supplier of ophthalmic lenses to Opening Eyes, Essilor International supports the mission of the Opening Eyes program to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities through quality eyecare.