Truffles: The Feline Optician Revolutionizing Children's Eye Care

Truffles is no ordinary housecat. This "super smart" kitty has taken on a unique role, working full-time at a Pennsylvania-based optical shop to make a child's first experience with glasses "more memorable." What's more, Truffles wears glasses herself, setting an inspiring example for the young patients she encounters.

Empowering Children, One Pair of Glasses at a Time

A Furry Optician's Journey

Truffles' journey began in 2017, when owner and pediatric optician Danielle Crull welcomed the then-stray cat into her family. It soon became clear that Truffles was "something special," quickly mastering the tricks Crull taught her. Crull's decision to fit Truffles with a pair of pink glasses made for premature babies proved to be a game-changer, as the feline didn't seem to mind wearing them.Crull began to call on Truffles whenever children would come in for a consultation, using the cat's glasses-wearing experience to help alleviate any fear or nerves the young patients might have. "I think kids just kind of feel like they relate to her and, 'Oh, Truffles is just like me.' And it really boosts their confidence and self-esteem," Crull explained.

Truffles' Rise to Fame

Crull's initial plan was simply to use Truffles to "teach kids a few things" about eye-related topics, including proper eyeglass care and wear. However, the videos she created featuring Truffles quickly gained traction, with one of her patient's posts in a Facebook group sparking a viral sensation."It was just to teach kids a few things, not to go viral or anything like that. I thought it'd be kind of handy," Crull said. "And she was very smart. I even taught her how to point to pictures on the eye chat and recognize different symbols."Truffles' first taste of fame came in 2019, when Crull posted a video of the feline "embracing her new green glasses." That video helped "spark a whole bunch" of momentum, inspiring Crull to make more videos and use Truffles' new-found popularity on the internet to start a non-profit organization.

Truffles' Reach Extends Globally

Through the non-profit Truffles The Kitty Organization and educational social media videos, Truffles' impact has extended far beyond the walls of A Child's Eyes in Mechanicsburg. Crull estimates that Truffles has helped thousands of children over the last seven years, empowering them to embrace their own vision challenges with confidence."The non-profit organization really just helped Truffles reach out and encourage kids far beyond our office, our state, even our country," Crull said.

A Feline Fixture in the Optical Shop

Despite her newfound fame, Truffles' daily routine at A Child's Eyes remains largely unchanged. She can still be found wandering around the office, rocking any one of the 25 pairs of glasses she owns and assisting Crull with patients.To further enhance the office environment for young patients, Crull has added another feline mascot, Gumdrop, an energetic orange cat who also wears glasses. "You can imagine a lot of people come in requesting to see Truffles. Now, she has a little brother, Gumdrop, who wears glasses too," Crull said.Truffles and Gumdrop's presence, along with the other animals in the office, work to "keep kids busy" and make their first experience with glasses even more memorable. "Toys are great, but also having animals there are just another thing to keep them busy. The most things you have for them to look at is really fun, especially when they're trying on glasses for the first time," Crull explained.For Truffles, being a part of this "amazing moment" in a child's life is a source of immense pride. "Truffles wants kids to feel empowered to walk out there and be like, 'Yeah, I wear glasses,' or 'Yeah, I wear an eye patch just like Truffles.'"