title: Visual Defects in Special Olympics Participants From Europe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe visual problems among athletes with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and the role of vision in special sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletes participating in Special Olympics European Summer Games 2010 in Warsaw attended vision screening by Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coaches were encouraged to bring all athletes to screening without selection; 900 athletes from 52 European countries participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard noninvasive eye examination procedures. Independent variables were age, gender, sport, and country of origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyeglasses wear, presenting visual acuity, refractive error, and ocular health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testability rates were very high. Findings confirmed high prevalence of ocular/visual defects in people with ID. There was an association between acuity and sport discipline. Few athletes used sports glasses. Screening revealed a lack of eye care even in the most developed nations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of vision on sports activity in athletes with ID is significant. More needs to be done to ensure good vision and safety correction for active people with ID. Better provision and greater awareness of eye care in people with ID is needed in all European societies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data presented highlight the need for increased awareness of the role of vision in sporting achievements, personal development, and quality of life in active people with ID. Athletes with ID should have easily accessible comprehensive eye care, and when appropriate, corrective and protective glasses. This will require the efficient cooperation of vision specialists, coaches, carers, and athletes themselves.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Binocular Vision Pathophysiology and Strabismus, University Hospital No. 1, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and †School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzdrowska
authors.forename: J Margaret
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Woodhouse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult