Exhibit 99.1

                                                            Investor Inquiries:
                                                            Robert K. Gudbranson
                                                            (440) 329-6001

NEWS RELEASE


INVACARE CORPORATION REPORTS SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS IN LINE WITH PRIOR GUIDANCE

ELYRIA, Ohio - (July 17, 2003) - Invacare Corporation (NYSE: IVC) today reported
its  financial  results for the second  quarter and first half of the year ended
June 30, 2003.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
Earnings  per share for the  quarter  were $0.49  versus  $0.51  last year.  Net
earnings were $15.4 million.  Net sales for the quarter  increased 10% to $300.1
million versus $271.8 million last year.  Results for the quarter benefited from
higher net sales, offset by a lower gross margin and higher selling, general and
administrative expense (SG&A).

In the  quarter,  the gross margin as a percentage  of net sales  decreased  0.4
percentage points compared to last year's quarter,  primarily due to a sales mix
toward lower margin products and pricing pressures, particularly in the standard
product  lines.  SG&A  expense  increased  19% over last  year's  quarter due to
foreign currency  translation,  continued  investments in marketing and branding
programs,  additional  provisions for bad debts,  and a significant  increase in
insurance costs.

Earnings  per share for the first six months of this year were $0.88,  flat with
last year. Net earnings were $27.7 million.  Net sales for the first half of the
year increased 10% to $576.8 million versus $526.9 million last year.  Adjusting
for  foreign  currency,  net sales  increased  4% for the first half and for the
second  quarter.  Results  for the first six months  benefited  from  higher net
sales, offset by a lower gross margin and higher SG&A.

A. Malachi Mixon, III, chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "Invacare's
sales  performance  allowed us to meet the earnings  per share  guidance for the
quarter.  Double-digit  growth in North American sales of respiratory  products,
rehab products and medical  supplies and in Australasian  sales led the improved
revenue growth. Additionally, the Company continued to generate strong free cash
flow*,  totaling  $20 million for the  quarter.  During the last twelve  months,
total free cash flow of $84  million has enabled the Company to pay down debt by
approximately  the same  amount." Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided
by operating activities less the purchases of property and equipment.

NORTH AMERICA
For the quarter,  North American net sales increased 5% to $213.0 million versus
$202.1 million last year. Respiratory products sales increased 41% due to strong
performance in oxygen  concentrators and the HomeFill(TM) product line. Sales of
the rehab products line increased 15%, due largely to the continued  strength of
sales of consumer power  products.  Invacare  Supply Group sales  increased 11%,
returning to the double-digit
<page>

increases  delivered during most of last year. These sales increases were offset
by  declines  in two  product  areas.  Standard  products  sales  declined  12%,
primarily due to continued pricing pressures, and sales to nursing homes through
Invacare  Continuing  Care  Group  decreased  8%,  primarily  due  to  continued
uncertainty surrounding governmental reimbursement programs.

For the quarter, earnings before income taxes decreased versus last year largely
due to a  continued  shift in the product mix toward  lower  margin  respiratory
products,  consumer power products and supplies, coupled with increased spending
on branding and marketing programs, bad debt expense and insurance costs.

For the six months,  North  American net sales  increased  5% to $413.4  million
versus $393.9 million last year.

EUROPE
For the quarter,  European net sales increased 16% to $68.7 million versus $59.1
million last year. Adjusting for foreign currency,  European net sales decreased
4% for the quarter  primarily  due to slower than  expected  sales in the Nordic
region and reimbursement pressures in Germany. For the quarter,  earnings before
income  taxes  increased  primarily  due to the  favorable  impact from  foreign
currency translation.

For the six months,  European net sales  increased 16% to $131.2  million versus
$113.4  million last year.  Adjusting for foreign  currency,  European net sales
decreased 4% for the six months.

AUSTRALASIA
For the quarter,  Australasian  net sales  increased 72% to $18.4 million versus
$10.7 million last year. Adjusting for foreign currency,  Australasian net sales
increased  43% in the  quarter  versus  last year,  due to the  strong  sales of
consumer power products and continued  larger purchases by a customer of Dynamic
Controls.  For the quarter,  earnings before income taxes increased  compared to
last year due in part to  increased  sales,  a  favorable  impact  from  foreign
currency translation and tight controls on SG&A.

For the six months, Australasian net sales increased 64% to $32.2 million versus
$19.6 million last year. Adjusting for foreign currency,  Australasian net sales
increased 33% for the six months.

FINANCIAL CONDITION
Total  debt  outstanding  was $212.9  million at the end of the second  quarter,
bringing  debt-to-total-capitalization  to 28.0% versus 33.2% at the end of last
year and 40.2% at the end of the  second  quarter  last year.  With the  current
debt-to-total-capitalization  level,  the  Company has  flexibility  to purchase
additional common shares and to make accretive acquisitions. During the quarter,
the Company paid down debt by $17 million.  Days sales outstanding were 64 days,
improving by 2 days  compared  with the end of last year and improving by 4 days
compared with the end of the second quarter last year. Inventory turns were 6.0,
declining from 6.2 at the end of last year and the end of the
<page>
second quarter last year.  The decline was primarily due to inventory  increases
related to new product introductions.

OUTLOOK
Despite  pricing  pressures,  particularly  in the standard  products  line, and
reimbursement pressures in the U.S. and much of Europe, the Company exceeded the
high end of its sales  forecast for the first six months of this year.  Although
pricing  pressures  on  standard  products  led  to  continued  weakness  in the
Company's  gross  margin,  cost  reduction  plans in North  America  and further
sourcing  in  the  Far  East  should  help  to   alleviate   the  gross   margin
deterioration.  In light of these plans, the Company is maintaining its guidance
of earnings per share in 2003 of between $2.10 and $2.20. Net sales for the year
are expected to be between 10% and 12% above last year.  For the third  quarter,
the Company  expects a net sales increase of between 9% and 11% and earnings per
share of between $0.57 and $0.62.

Commenting on the Company's  anticipated  results,  Mixon said,  "The Company is
attacking  its costs in order to respond  to the  pricing  pressures  from Asian
knock-offs  of Invacare  products.  We have  completed  the planned  move of all
remaining steel wheelchair  manufacturing to Mexico.  Additionally,  the Company
will establish manufacturing capacity in China in 2004."

Mixon  continued,  "We  continue to be pleased  with the strong  performance  of
rehab,  respiratory and medical supplies  product lines in North America.  Newly
introduced products in total accounted for 59% of North America's second quarter
equipment sales in the homecare channel,  up from 48% in the first quarter.  The
IVC(TM) Homecare Bed and the Storm Series(R)  TDX(TM),  Invacare's most advanced
customized  power  wheelchair,  were both  introduced  on time during the second
quarter.  In the second half of the year, the Company is also  introducing a new
sleep apnea product line,  including  Invacare's own designed  mask.  With these
introductions,  we believe  that the  Company is on track to achieve  its fourth
quarter 2003 target of replacing 90% of North  American  equipment  sales in the
homecare  channel from new products  introduced since October 2001. With the new
product introductions and the execution of the cost reduction programs mentioned
above,  Invacare expects to return to double-digit earnings growth in the fourth
quarter of this year."

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Free cash flow is a non-GAAP  financial  measure,  which is  reconciled to the
related GAAP financial measure in the "Reconciliation"  table included after the
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in this press release.



Invacare  Corporation  (NYSE:IVC - news),  headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, is the
global leader in the  manufacture  and  distribution  of innovative home medical
products  that  promote  recovery and active  lifestyles.  The Company has 5,300
associates and markets its products in 80 countries  around the world.  For more
information  about the Company and our  products,  visit  Invacare's  website at
www.invacare.com.


This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
"Safe Harbor"  provisions  of the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of
1995. Terms such as "will," "should," "plan,"  "intend,"  "expect,"  "continue,"
"believe,"   "anticipate"  and  "seek,"  as  well  as  similar   comments,   are
forward-looking  in nature.  Actual results and events may differ  significantly
from those expressed or anticipated as a result of risks and uncertainties which
include,  but are not limited to, the following:  pricing pressures,  increasing
raw material costs, the consolidations of health care customers and competitors,
government  reimbursement  issues  (including those that affect the viability of
customers),  the ability to design, manufacture and distribute new products with
higher   functionality  and  lower  costs,  the  ability  to  accelerate  market
acceptance of and transition to new products,  the effect of offering  customers
competitive  financing  terms,  Invacare's  ability  to  successfully  identify,
acquire and integrate  strategic  acquisition  candidates,  the  difficulties in
managing and operating businesses in many different foreign  jurisdictions,  the
timely completion of facility consolidations,  the vagaries of any litigation or
regulatory  investigations  that the Company may be or become involved in at any
time, the  difficulties in acquiring and maintaining a proprietary  intellectual
property ownership  position,  the overall economic,  market and industry growth
conditions,  foreign  currency and interest  rate risks,  Invacare's  ability to
improve  financing  terms  and  reduce  working  capital,  as well as the  risks
described  from time to time in Invacare's  reports as filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission.  We undertake no  obligation to review or update these
forward-looking statements or other information contained herein.



<table>
                                                     INVACARE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)

                                                                Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                                                    June 30,                   June 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)                           2003         2002          2003         2002
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<s>                                                              <c>          <c>           <c>          <c>
Net sales                                                   $300,114     $271,846      $576,787     $526,927
Cost of products sold                                        212,280      191,228       408,502      371,675
                                                             -------      -------       -------      -------
     Gross profit                                             87,834       80,618       168,285      155,252
Selling, general and administrative expense                   63,589       53,631       124,109      107,048
Interest expense - net                                         1,223        2,995         2,887        6,534
                                                             -------      -------       -------      -------
     Earnings before income taxes                             23,022       23,992        41,289       41,670
Income taxes                                                   7,575        7,890        13,585       13,700
                                                             -------      -------       -------      -------
Net earnings                                                 $15,447      $16,102       $27,704      $27,970
                                                             =======      =======       =======      =======

Net earnings per share - basic                                 $0.50        $0.52         $0.90        $0.91
                                                              ======       ======        ======       ======
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic                   30,799       30,890        30,815       30,814
                                                              ======       ======        ======       ======

Net earnings per share - assuming dilution                     $0.49        $0.51         $0.88        $0.88
                                                              ======       ======        ======       ======
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution       31,507       31,807        31,527       31,677
                                                              ======       ======        ======       ======
</table>

Business  Segments - The Company  operates in three  primary  business  segments
based on geographical  area: North America,  Europe and  Australasia.  The three
reportable  segments  represent  operating  groups,   which  offer  products  to
different  geographic regions.  Intersegment revenue for reportable segments was
$18,863,000  and  $34,592,000  for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003,
respectively, and $15,494,000 and $29,652,000 for the same periods a year ago.

The information by segment is as follows:
<table>
                                                                   Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended
                                                                        June 30,                    June 30,
(In thousands)                                                     2003          2002          2003           2002
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<s>                                                                 <c>           <c>           <c>            <c>
Revenues from external customers
     North America                                             $212,990      $202,121      $413,373       $393,890
     Europe                                                      68,742        59,061       131,181        113,396
     Australasia                                                 18,382        10,664        32,233         19,641
                                                               --------      --------      --------       --------
     Consolidated                                              $300,114      $271,846      $576,787       $526,927
                                                               ========      ========      ========       ========
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
     North America                                             $ 17,356      $ 20,291      $ 33,464       $ 37,697
     Europe                                                       4,295         3,801         6,615          4,707
     Australasia                                                  2,012         1,136         3,278          1,574
     All Other                                                     (641)       (1,236)       (2,068)        (2,308)
                                                               --------      --------      --------       --------
     Consolidated                                               $23,022      $ 23,992      $ 41,289       $ 41,670
                                                               ========      ========      ========       ========
</table>
"All  Other"  consists  of the  domestic  export  unit,  un-allocated  corporate
selling, general and administrative expense, the Invacare captive insurance unit
and  inter-company  profits,  which do not meet the  quantitative  criteria  for
determining reportable segments.

<page>
<table>
                                        INVACARE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                          June 30, 2003      December 31,      June 30, 2002
(In thousands)                                              (unaudited)              2002        (unaudited)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<s>                                                                 <c>               <c>                <c>
Current Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities               $  9,242          $ 14,436           $ 11,080
Trade receivables - net                                         225,368           200,388            216,560
Installment receivables - net                                    12,308            20,953             27,362
Inventories - net                                               125,539           111,382            103,744
Deferred income taxes and other current assets                   50,358            51,653             38,823
                                                                -------           -------            -------
     Total current assets                                       422,815           398,812            397,569

Other Assets                                                     60,240            55,810             53,173
Plant and equipment - net                                       136,518           130,963            131,013
Goodwill - net                                                  355,991           321,118            311,122
                                                                -------           -------            -------
     Total assets                                              $975,564          $906,703           $892,877
                                                               ========          ========           ========

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable                                                $95,189           $80,511            $68,940
Accrued expenses                                                 79,213            66,414             71,555
Accrued income taxes                                             13,662            16,049             15,059
Current maturities                                                2,785             4,479              6,516
                                                                -------           -------            -------
     Total current liabilities                                  190,849           167,453            162,070

Long-term debt                                                  210,107           234,134            281,347
Other long-term obligations                                      26,949            24,804             21,789

Shareholders' equity                                            547,659           480,312            427,671
                                                                -------           -------            -------
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                $975,564          $906,703           $892,877
                                                               ========          ========           ========
</table>

<table>
                                  INVACARE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                 RECONCILIATION FROM NET CASH PROVIDED BY
                              OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED)


                                                       Three Months Ended            Six Months Ended
                                                             June 30,                    June 30,
    (In thousands)                                      2003           2002          2003         2002
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    <c>                                                  <c>            <c>            <c>         <c>
    Net cash provided by operating activities        $26,032        $35,536       $45,276      $62,409
    Less:
    Purchases of property and equipment               (6,109)        (4,474)       (9,884)      (9,195)
                                                     -------        -------       -------      -------
    Free Cash Flow                                   $19,923        $31,062       $35,392      $53,214
                                                     =======        =======       =======      =======
</table>

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP  financial  measure  that is  comprised of net cash
provided by operating  activities,  less  purchases  of property and  equipment.
Management believes that this financial measure provides meaningful  information
for evaluating the overall financial  performance of the Company and its ability
to repay debt or make future investments  (including  acquisitions,  etc.) after
purchases of property and equipment.


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