2026 Special Olympics Lions Clubs Opening Eyes Screening Served 124 Athletes

Dr. Maureen Nelson, Dr. Janet Fett and UNO pre-optometry student Cam volunteered at the event.

Volunteers at the 2026 Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes screening served 124 athletes, ordering 57 new pairs of glasses and 39 prescription sports goggles.

They also dispensed numerous pairs of nonprescription sunglasses and referred some athletes back to their local optometrists for further health evaluations. The event was held May 29 at Creighton University in Omaha.

Dr. Maureen Nelson thanked her Co-Clinical Director Dr. Janet Fett, as well as Dr. Ellen Weiss and Dr. Dave Michaels "for their invaluable help at the event". She gratefully acknowledged the seven optometrists, 10 opticians/paraoptometric technicians and 25 Lions Club members who also volunteered, the Opening Eyes Committee of the Nebraska Lions Foundation who helped organize the event, and EssilorLuxottica Vision Foundation who provided frames and lenses for prescription eyewear.

"This is a great event for Special Olympics Nebraska," Dr. Nelson said. "I look forward to seeing everyone at next year's event."