http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/news/2878850/detail.html

Troubleshooter Changes Toddler's Perspective Of Life
LensCrafters Donates Glasses To Allrunner

POSTED: 4:59 pm PST February 26, 2004

SAN DIEGO -- Kids are eager to explore the world around them. But 2-year-old
Dylan Allrunner has been a bit timid. Without glasses, he cannot see more than a
few inches in front of his eyes.

Allrunner, (pictured, right), suffers from a genetic disorder called Stickler's
Syndrome. The condition causes arthritis, hearing problems and eye problems,
like severe nearsightedness.

Dr. David Granet, director of University of California, San Diego Ratner
Children's Eye Center said Stickler's Syndrome can have serious complications.

"The eye problems can be horrible and they include terrible nearsightedness at
an age when kids should not be nearsighted and at an age when they can't tell
you they can't see," Granet said.

Allrunner's mother, Ann Koll, wrote the Troubleshooter and asked for help in
getting her son new glasses. Allrunner has worn glasses since he was 8 months
old. His vision changes frequently and his prescription has changed four times
in his short life.

"My hard time has been (that) a lot of providers do not carry frames for a child
under the age of 2 and it's been a really hard time," said Koll. "I've been
paying out of pocket."

But the out-of-pocket expenses mounted for Koll, so the Troubleshooter contacted
LensCrafters, and the Mission Valley optical center agreed to help Allrunner
improve his vision with new glasses.

"When we heard about the story, I really took it to heart to make sure that
little Dylan could be helped," said Stephanie Johnson, the manager of the
Mission Valley LensCrafters. "It's not every day that we see a situation like
this, so it's very important that we help somebody special. For a child at 2
years old to have eyesight like that was very sad and we all took it to heart
here at LensCrafters. We all wanted to make him be able to see."

At the LensCrafters lab, technicians made Allrunner's new glasses, which his
mother hopes will give him a new perspective on the world around him.

"I envision a lot for him. I think he'll be more active," Koll said.

Allrunner donated his old glasses to LensCrafter and Lions Club's eyeglass
recycling program, "The Gift of Sight."

Each year, about 60,000 people get new glasses through the "Gift of Sight." For
more information on the "Gift of Sight," go to www.givethegiftofsight.org or
call (800) 522-LENS.

Copyright 2004 by TheSanDiegoChannel.com.
All rights reserved.

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Shelly Moore
President - Oregon Chapter National Marfan Foundation

Have-A-Heart for Marfan's!
Learn More about Marfan's Syndrome at http://www.marfan.org
Also visit the Oregon web site at http://oregonchapternmf.homestead.com

Stick together to help those with Stickler's Syndrome!
Visit the Stickler Involved People's site at http://www.sticklers.org/sip/
Reaching out to those with Stickler's in Oregon at
http://oregonsticklers.homestead.com


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