After a seven-year hiatus, the Opening Eyes discipline made a powerful return to Special Olympics Montana’s State Summer Games as part of SOMT’s broader Healthy Athletes initiative. This free vision screening program, offered to all participating athletes, proved once again how vital it is to the overall health, well-being, and performance of the individuals we serve.

This year’s screenings revealed that many athletes were competing, training, and living day-to-day without adequate vision correction. Some had outdated prescriptions, while others, like one bowler, didn’t even know they needed glasses. “She can finally see the pins clearly,” one of the optometrists shared with us. That moment captured what Opening Eyes is all about: providing access to care that can dramatically enhance quality of life, both on and off the playing field.

Through generous support from Essilor, who donated high-quality frames and lenses, and the commitment of our volunteer clinicians, athletes were given the opportunity to leave the event with updated, properly fitted glasses—some for the first time in years. Dr. Katie Green, an Optometrist and Clinical Director in Boston, traveled to Montana to certify Dr. Shawn Lebsock of Yellowstone Eye Clinic as a Clinical Director for the Opening Eyes program. The clinic was successful due to a dedicated team that included optometrists, technicians, opticians, Lions Club members, a local ER doctor, a dentist, and even Dr. Lebsock’s own parents. Many of these volunteers sacrificed clinic time to be part of this life-changing experience.

Dr. Lebsock of Yellowstone Eye Clinic shared a standout moment involving an enthusiastic athlete named Christian, who competes in track and field and basketball. Christian hadn’t received new glasses since the last Opening Eyes screening in 2018. He was thrilled to learn he’d be getting not only an updated everyday pair of glasses, but also new sports goggles—both with his current prescription. “Over the course of seven years, there’s no doubt Christian’s vision had changed,” Dr. Lebsock noted. “His prescription was strong enough that he relies on glasses to function at all, let alone perform his best. Seeing his joy and knowing how much this means to his athletic and everyday life made it all worth it.”

But Christian’s story was far from the only one. “There were many like him,” Dr. Lebsock added. “Athletes who rely heavily on their glasses just to navigate the world—and now they’ll be able to do that better.”

Dr. Dixon Maggard of Yellowstone Eye Clinic echoed these sentiments, emphasizing how many athletes didn’t realize how much their vision had declined. “I had multiple cases where athletes told me they thought they were seeing fine,” he said. “After refracting them and comparing their current glasses to their new prescription, we saw improvements of two lines or more on the eye chart. That’s not a small change—that’s the difference between struggling to see and being able to engage fully in life and sport.”

Even more meaningful than the improved vision, Dr. Maggard noted, were the emotional reactions. “The gratitude and smiles on the athletes’ faces were the best part of the day,” he said. “This is about more than eye health—it’s about dignity, confidence, and helping them perform at their best.”

The return of Opening Eyes underscores the mission of Healthy Athletes: to provide free, essential health screenings to Special Olympics athletes who often face barriers to accessing care. This year’s event was a resounding success, thanks to our partners, volunteers, and medical professionals who poured their hearts into this effort.

We’re already looking forward to what next year will bring—and we’re committed to making sure our athletes continue to see the world more clearly and live more fully.