Seeing More Clearly: Amanda’s Opening Eyes Experience at the Special Olympics USA Games

For Amanda, seeing clearly means more than reading an eye chart. It means being able to watch television without straining, see details around her home, understand what teachers are explaining in class, and simply experience the world with greater clarity.

At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Amanda had the opportunity to participate in Opening Eyes, one of the Healthy Athletes® disciplines that provides athletes with comprehensive vision screenings and, when needed, prescription eyewear at no cost.

Amanda had participated in Opening Eyes before, about seven years ago, and she visits her eye doctor every year. Before the USA Games, she knew she was ready for a new pair of glasses. Her older glasses were no longer helping her see clearly, and she had started noticing the difference in her everyday life.

“I couldn’t see on my old ones,” Amanda explained.

That made the opportunity to participate in Opening Eyes at the USA Games especially meaningful. She wanted to try something different, reconnect with an experience she had not done in a while, and, perhaps most importantly, get a new pair of glasses.

“I thought it was cool,” Amanda said.

A Different Kind of Eye Exam

When Amanda arrived at Opening Eyes, she immediately noticed that there was a lot happening. Unlike her typical eye appointments, where she usually sees one nurse and one doctor, Opening Eyes brought together multiple volunteers and professionals who helped athletes through different parts of the screening.

At first, that was a little different for Amanda to navigate.

But there were also parts of the screening she really enjoyed. One of her favorite activities involved following a stick with her eyes as part of the vision testing.

“I thought that was cool,” she said.

Most importantly, Amanda said the volunteers were kind, calm, and welcoming. While she was accustomed to seeing her own eye doctor, the Opening Eyes volunteers helped make the experience comfortable.

“They’re there to help you out,” Amanda said. “They were calm. They weren’t pushy.”

A Clearer View

The biggest moment came when Amanda received her new glasses.

She immediately noticed a difference.

“I can see more now than I did with my old glasses,” she said.

Suddenly, details in the distance were easier to see. She could clearly make out signs and buildings that had previously been difficult to see. Even an exit sign caught her attention, something she realized she could see much more clearly with her new glasses.

“From a long distance, it felt a lot. It was good and different,” Amanda said.

The difference wasn’t just about seeing farther. Amanda also noticed that she was no longer straining her eyes in the same way. She could watch television more clearly without the same level of blurriness or discomfort, and she noticed fewer headaches associated with wearing her old glasses.

She also found herself seeing details around her home more easily.

“I can clean better,” Amanda said.

After cleaning her home, she explained that she could see details on surfaces more clearly than she had before.

These may sound like small changes, but for Amanda, they represent something important: greater independence and comfort in everyday life.

Seeing Clearly Beyond the Screenings

Amanda had not yet had the chance to try her new swim goggles at the time of the interview, but she was already noticing how much her new glasses were helping her outside of sports.

She can see the television better. She can see more clearly while working out. She can see details around her home. And she can participate in school with greater confidence knowing that she will be able to see what is being presented.

When asked what “seeing clearly” means to her, Amanda put it simply:

“Maybe I can see better.”

Then she explained what that means in her everyday life: being able to understand what is happening on the news and see what teachers are writing and explaining in class.

For Amanda, clearer vision means being able to fully participate in the things that matter to her.

More Than a Pair of Glasses

Amanda also appreciated the people behind the Opening Eyes experience.

She described the volunteers as friendly, outgoing, honest, calm, and kind. She appreciated that they took the time to help athletes and recognized the value of their service.

“I thought they did an amazing job,” Amanda said.

And the experience created some fun moments outside of the screening, too. Amanda’s family noticed her new glasses right away. Her dad told her that she looked smart, while her nephews thought she looked cute in them.

But the real impact went deeper than compliments.

Amanda knows that without Opening Eyes, she likely would have continued wearing her old glasses until she was able to get a new pair elsewhere. In the meantime, she would have continued struggling to see as well and potentially dealing with the headaches and eye strain she experienced with her old glasses.

Instead, she left the USA Games with something that could improve her everyday life long after the competition ended.

Encouraging Other Athletes to See Their Best

Amanda would encourage other Special Olympics athletes to participate in Opening Eyes.

Her message is straightforward: the people are friendly, the experience is supportive, and the volunteers are there to help.

For Amanda, Opening Eyes was about more than getting a free pair of glasses. It was about discovering how much clearer the world could look, and how much easier everyday activities could feel, with the right vision support.

Her experience is a powerful reminder of why Healthy Athletes screenings matter. A vision screening can uncover needs that athletes may have adapted to without realizing it. Access to appropriate eyewear can improve comfort, confidence, independence, and participation in school, work, fitness, sports, and everyday life.

Amanda came to Opening Eyes looking for a new pair of glasses.

She left seeing her world a little more clearly.