Atlanta GA, March 29, 2005 - When she was three years old, Aracely Rosillo was taken to the doctor for what her parents thought was a minor eye irritation. What doctors discovered was cancer of the retina. Her condition was so advanced that one eye was immediately removed, and five months later her second eye had to be removed, leaving Aracely with a total loss of vision.

Lucas was an orphan in Ethiopia when he was adopted by Atlanta resident Libby Rice. Born with congenital glaucoma, Lucas' blindness was a gradual progression.

Now in the fourth and second grades, respectively, at Huie Elementary School in Forest Park, Aracely and Lucas have inspired VSP (Vision Service Plan) doctors and Atlanta's Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) with support from the Georgia Optometric Association to host a Get Focused on Vision event for more than 600 students. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 30 from 8:30-10:30 AM in the Huie Elementary School gymnasium.

According to the children's vision teacher, Karla Deming, "Aracely and Lucas don't let their inability to see hold them back. They have been an inspiration for their schoolmates and teachers. They have motivated us to help coordinate this important educational program. We hope our children gain a greater understanding of the challenges children with vision loss face every day and gain a greater appreciation for their own vision."

At the vision event, VSP doctors will teach children how the eye works, how to recognize and avoid eye hazards, the differences between human and animal eyes, how optical illusions work, how doctors examine eyes to determine eye health, how diseases can impact vision, and the impact of poor vision on sports and reading.

CVI will demonstrate games and learning tools used by the visually impaired, teach children how to be "sighted-guides" and lead other children who are visually impaired, and demonstrate how Braille is made and read. Children will also meet "CJ," a guide dog, and learn how dogs are trained and used.

The month of March is recognized as "Save Your Vision" month, which is a program of the American Optometric Association supported by VSP and its more than 20,000 network eye doctors.

About VSP
VSP provides eyecare benefit plans that range from comprehensive eye examinations and materials to complete medical and surgical eyecare. With more than 39 million members nationwide, one in eight people in the United States relies on VSP for eyecare health coverage. VSP's Sight for Students program has helped more than 250,000 low-income/uninsured children receive free eyecare services since its inception in 1997. VSP, a company with over $2 billion in annual gross revenue, has been recognized by Fortune Magazine for the sixth consecutive year as one of best places to work in America. For more information, visit us online at www.vsp.com.

About CVI
The Center for the Visually Impaired is Georgia's largest comprehensive, fully accredited, private facility providing rehabilitation services for individuals of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. Since 1962, the Center has grown to serve as a model of innovative services for people who have a wide range of vision impairments from low vision to total blindness. For more information: www.cviatlanta.org.

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