Stickler's Syndrome article

March 6, 2004

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. 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 , 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

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