Opening Eyes and heavy hearts
2017 SOMI Summer Games dedicated to optometrist Philip Irion
Tears began glistening in Meredith Tonigish's eyes as she pointed out "Dr. Phil 2017" written on more than 100 volunteers' shirts among eye screening stations in the end zone of the Indoor Athletic Complex.
Over the last 17 years, more than 13,000 eye exams have been performed and 7,000 pairs of glasses have been given to Special Olympics Michigan athletes — all because of Dr. Philip Irion's vision.
The optometrist from Lansing was instrumental in bringing the first-ever Opening Eyes program to the 2000 SOMI Summer Games, where he and a group of volunteers performed 663 vision tests and gave out 172 pairs of glasses in just three days. Following a brief illness, Irion passed away in March. This year's SOMI Summer Games were dedicated to his memory.
"It's been rough," Tongish said. "The reason we all come out and do this for these athletes is because (Irion) made it happen. He was like the father to this big Opening Eyes family we have."
Opening Eyes is one of the services provided in SOMI's athlete village during the summer games. At the village, SOMI athletes can receive services provided by volunteer health professionals at no cost to the athletes and their families. More than 900 athletes received free eye exams this weekend during the 2017 SOMI Summer Games.
Athletes go through 13 stations where they can receive near and far sight exams, color exams and fitting for glasses if they need them. Medical volunteers conduct the exams and make the glasses on sight with donated lenses and frames.
Irion was inspired to bring Opening Eyes to Michigan after seeing it at the World Games in 1999. What started out in a small classroom at CMU now covers an entire end zone in the Indoor Athletic Complex's Turf Bay.
Many athletes receive their first pairs of glasses through Opening Eyes program, said SOMI Chief Program Officer Ann Guzdzial. Free vision care, designer sunglasses and prescription swim goggles are also available to the athletes.
"Many of our athletes can't afford these types of services," Guzdzial said. "I remember one year a little girl ran up and said, 'I can see the bottom of the pool for the first time.'"
In addition to free eye exams, the healthy athlete village also provided dental care and other preliminary examinations to SOMI athletes.
