Photo by Laura Contini De Franco
In February 2024, Special Olympics New Jersey athlete Colleen Ciecura began experiencing persistent eye discomfort—itching, dryness, and blurry, double vision. Everyday joys like reading, playing sports, watching TV, and enjoying hobbies became exhausting and overwhelming.
Colleen went to appointments, and hoped someone could make sense of it all, but most visits left her without answers. Many doctors attributed her symptoms to allergies or minor issues, offering no clear explanation or relief. As Colleen recalled, “I was halfway through my third script and I called the office and said, ‘This isn’t working. My vision is getting worse—it’s sometimes double, and sometimes my eye hurts a little bit. I can’t read anymore.’ And they kept saying the same thing.”
Everything changed when Colleen competed in the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games in June 2024 and visited the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes®, the vision care discipline of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®. Opening Eyes offers free non-dilated vision screenings, eye health assessments, prescription eyewear, and health education to Special Olympics athletes and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Photo by Laura Contini De Franco
At the Opening Eyes screening, Colleen retold her story. But this time, it was different. The doctors and volunteers listened carefully. They examined her eyes and made important notes right away: a droopy eyelid, misalignment of her eyes, and her body language suggested that this was more than irritation.
Dr. Roheena Malik, an optometrist and Clinical Director for Special Olympics New Jersey, recalls when Colleen made a simple statement, “When Colleen shared her struggles, she wanted to be sure she wasn’t imagining it, and that it wasn’t ‘all in her head.’ Her symptoms were real, and we recognized those symptoms in the exam chair, which led to our referral to a specialist.”
Colleen was then referred to the local neuro-ophthalmologist to continue her care after the screening. After all the overview testing, she finally received a diagnosis. Colleen was diagnosed with ocular myasthenia gravis, a rare and chronic autoimmune disease that causes varying degrees of weakness in the skeletal muscles, which can often affect the muscles that control the eyes and eyelids. Finally, there was an explanation for the heavy, droopy eyelid and the double vision that disrupted her daily routines.
With the proper treatment, Colleen was able to find relief. The blurry and double images gradually became easier to manage. She no longer felt irritation and discomfort, sharing, “I can finally feel like myself again.” “I am very thankful for programs like Opening Eyes,” Colleen added. “They listened to me, believed me, and helped me get the care that was best for me. Now I feel I can keep doing the things I enjoy.”
For Colleen, this change was about more than just seeing clearly. It was about restoring her confidence to enjoy her hobbies, play sports with her friends again, and fully participate in her community. It also confirmed that what she was experiencing was real and that she was not alone in facing issues related to her vision.
“Vision is Life”
Colleen’s story reflects the stories of many other Special Olympics athletes and highlights why programs like Opening Eyes are so vital. Opening Eyes screenings have found that a large percentage of Special Olympics athletes in the U.S. have vision and eye health concerns including: 20% present an ocular health abnormality and 68% need a new prescription or replacement eyewear.
Programs like Opening Eyes help bridge the gap in healthcare by offering free health screenings to athletes while also fostering dignity and hope. “Vision is life,” Dr. Malik stated. “When we help someone see clearly, we are not just improving their vision; we are opening doors for them to thrive, whether in hobbies, work, relationships, or community.”
Seeing the Big Picture
In honor of World Sight Day, Colleen’s experience highlights a powerful truth: vision health is essential, not a luxury. It plays a vital role in enabling participation, independence, and joy in life.
For individuals with IDD, access to care can mean the difference between navigating internal challenges to maintain sight and fully engaging with life. Special Olympics embodies its own message: “It’s not who we are, it’s what we do.”
Colleen’s journey embodies every word of that message. Her story reflects resilience, hope, and recovery through care, ensuring she is truly heard and understood. Today, Colleen not only sees more clearly but also perceives the intricate beauty of everything around her. With her world back in focus, Colleen’s everyday joys feel possible again.
