The College of Optometrists

Speaking at the Ceilidh, Frank Munro commented: “it is a well-recognised fact that the people with learning disabilities who gather at the Special Olympics are far more likely to suffer some sort of visual impairment than other groups in society.”  He went on to describe how analysis of the screenings the last time the Special Olympics took place in Cardiff in 2001 revealed 15% of the group will never have had an optometric eye examination, despite a high proportion requiring some sort of corrective treatment, adding: “providing this free clinical care offers an instant boost to the athlete’s performance in the sporting arena and can help improve their quality of life as a whole.  In addition optometrists are given the perfect opportunity to increase their understanding and awareness of learning disability.”