Special Specs Designer

When eyeglasses fit properly, the wearer naturally looks through the optical centers of the lenses when facing straight ahead. These spots on each curved lens bend light in just the right way to correct the person’s vision. If the optical centers aren’t in the right place, the eyes will start to turn toward them to see clearly. That may cause eye strain and headaches. For people with Down syndrome, the optical centers of traditional glasses become misplaced as the glasses slip down. As a result, the glasses create vision problems rather than correcting them.

With regular glasses, the bridge is almost always at the top of the eye wires— the parts of the frame that hold the lenses. This design makes sense for people whose noses start near the upper part of their eyes, so the lenses hang down properly.

To accommodate the lower starting point of the nose for people with Down syndrome, I moved the bridge to the center of the eye wires. I lowered the placement of the temples, or arms that rest on the ears, as well. With this design, the lenses stay correctly positioned in relation to the wearer’s eyes.

When I first sent my designs to a frame manufacturer, they sent them back—redesigned to look like typical frames. I explained that my designs were what I wanted, and then they made my first prototypes, or preliminary models.

I had the same experience with another manufacturer. But after explaining the reasons behind my designs to the owner, he said, “I’m behind you 100 percent!” His reaction was rare, though. Many people told me, “There’s no market for this.” But I knew there was. People with Down syndrome are much more likely than the general population to have vision problems. In fact, 87 percent of children with the condition need glasses by preschool. I couldn’t understand why people in the industry didn’t see a need. But I never gave up. Now, my frames are sold in 28 countries.

There were two pivotal moments that helped me know I was on the right track. The first was when Erin tried on my first prototype and the frames didn’t slip. That’s when I knew I had a great idea.

The second was when I went to my first Down syndrome conference as a vendor in 2008. I sold all 26 frames I’d brought and left with a seven-page list of orders for more. Erin, who’d come with me, got to see firsthand people’s excitement for the product she inspired.

Today, my staff hears daily from families and optometrists about how our glasses have changed people’s lives. That’s the truest measure of our success.