SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                     Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)

Filed by the Registrant (x)
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ( )

Check the appropriate box:

( ) Preliminary Proxy Statement            ( )  Confidential for Use of the
                                                Commission Only (as Permitted 
                                                by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

(x)  Definitive Proxy Statement
( )  Definitive Additional Materials
( )  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                              Invacare Corporation
                              --------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

                                      
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the Appropriate box):

( )  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2) or 
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
( )  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 
     14a-6(i)(3).
( )  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11

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     2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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     3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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( )  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
( )  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
     paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
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                                One Invacare Way
                                Elyria, OH 44035

                                                           April 16, 1999

To the Shareholders of

    INVACARE CORPORATION:

         This year's Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  will be held at 10:00 A.M.
(EDT),  on  Wednesday,  May 26, 1999, at the Lorain  County  Community  College,
Spitzer  Conference Center,  Grand Room, 1005 North Abbe Road, Elyria,  Ohio. We
will be reporting on your Company's  activities and you will have an opportunity
to ask questions about our operations.

         We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual  Meeting  personally
and we look  forward  to  seeing  you.  Whether  or not you  expect to attend in
person,  the return of the enclosed  Proxy as soon as possible  would be greatly
appreciated  and will ensure that your shares will be  represented at the Annual
Meeting. If you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may, of course,  withdraw your
Proxy should you wish to vote in person.

         On  behalf  of the  Board  of  Directors  and  management  of  Invacare
Corporation,  I  would  like  to  thank  you  for  your  continued  support  and
confidence.

                                            Sincerely yours,


                                            /S/ A. Malachi Mixon, III
                                            --------------------------
                                            A. Malachi Mixon, III
                                            Chairman and Chief
                                            Executive Officer



                                       
                              INVACARE CORPORATION

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                             TO BE HELD MAY 26, 1999

         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of
Invacare Corporation (the "Company") will be held at the Lorain County Community
College,  Spitzer Conference  Center,  Grand Room, 1005 North Abbe Road, Elyria,
Ohio on  Wednesday,  May 26,  1999,  at  10:00  A.M.  (EDT),  for the  following
purposes:



1.       To elect four Directors,  to the class whose three-year term of office
         will expire in 2002;


2.       To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
         Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

         Holders of Common  Shares and Class B Common Shares of record as of the
close of business on Thursday,  April 1, 1999 are entitled to receive  notice of
and vote at the Annual Meeting.  It is important that your shares be represented
at the Annual Meeting.  For that reason, we ask that you promptly sign, date and
mail the enclosed Proxy card in the return envelope provided.  Shareholders  who
attend the Annual Meeting may revoke their Proxy and vote in person.


                                             By order of the Board of Directors,

                                             /S/ Thomas R. Miklich
                                             --------------------------
                                             Thomas R. Miklich
                                             Secretary


April 16, 1999



                                       1

                              INVACARE CORPORATION

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                        Mailed on or About April 16, 1999

            ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 26, 1999



                               GENERAL INFORMATION

         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of Proxies by the Board of Directors of Invacare Corporation (hereinafter called
"Invacare" or the "Company") for use at the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of
the  Company to be held on May 26,  1999 and any  adjournments  or  postponement
thereof.  The time,  place and purposes of the Annual  Meeting are stated in the
Notice  of  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders,   which  accompanies  this  Proxy
Statement.  The expense of soliciting Proxies,  including the cost of preparing,
assembling and mailing the Notice,  Proxy Statement and Proxy,  will be borne by
the Company. In addition to solicitation of Proxies by mail, solicitation may be
made by the  Company's  Directors,  officers or  employees,  without  additional
compensation,  personally  and by  telephone,  and the  Company  may pay persons
holding  shares for others their  expenses for sending proxy  materials to their
principals.  No solicitation will be made other than by Directors,  officers and
employees of the Company.

         Any person giving a Proxy pursuant to this  solicitation may revoke it.
The General  Corporation Law of Ohio provides that, unless otherwise provided in
the Proxy, a  shareholder,  without  affecting any vote  previously  taken,  may
revoke a Proxy not otherwise  revoked by giving notice to the Company in writing
or in open  meeting.  All  validly  executed  Proxies  received  by the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  pursuant to this  solicitation  will be voted at the
Annual Meeting, and the directions contained in such Proxies will be followed in
each  instance.  If no directions  are given,  the Proxy will be voted "FOR" the
election of the four nominees listed in the Proxy.

                                  VOTING RIGHTS

         At the close of business on April 1, 1999,  the Company had  28,563,572
Common Shares, without par value ("Common Shares"), and 1,433,007 Class B Common
Shares, without par value ("Class B Common Shares"), outstanding and entitled to
vote. The holders of the  outstanding  Common Shares as of April 1, 1999 will be
entitled  to one  vote  for  each  share  held by them  and the  holders  of the
outstanding  Class B Common  Shares as of April 1, 1999 will be  entitled to ten
votes for each share held by them. Except as otherwise provided by the Company's
Amended and Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  or required by law, holders of
Common  Shares and Class B Common  Shares  will at all times vote on all matters
(including  the election of  Directors)  together as one class.  Pursuant to the
Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, no holder of shares of
any class has  cumulative  voting  rights in the  election  of  Directors.  Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 1999 are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.


                                       2

               SHARE OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT

Share ownership of certain beneficial owners. The following table sets forth, as
of February 26, 1999,  the share  ownership of each person or group known by the
Company  to  beneficially  own more  than 5% of  either  class of  shares of the
Company:




                                                                                 Class B
                                                         Common Shares          Common Shares
                                                       beneficially owned     beneficially owned*
                                                    ---------------------     ---------------------
                                                    Number                    Number                    Percentage
Name and business address                             of                        of                       of total
      of beneficial owner                           shares      Percentage    shares     Percentage     voting power
                                                    ------      ----------    ------     ----------     ------------
                                                                                                                  
A. Malachi Mixon, III (1)..................        941,739         3.2%       703,912      49.1%          17.6%
One Invacare Way, Elyria, Ohio 44035

Joseph B. Richey, II (2)...................        760,366         2.6%       376,262      26.3%          10.0%
One Invacare Way, Elyria, Ohio 44035

Invacare Corporation Employees'
Stock Bonus Trust and Plan (3).............        603,451         2.1%       259,386      18.1%           7.1%
One Invacare Way, Elyria, Ohio 44035

AXA Assurances I.A.R.D. Mutuelle (4)(5)....      2,863,772         9.8%          -           -             6.3%
21, rue de Chateaudun 75009 Paris France



*    Pursuant to the Company's  Amended and Restated  Articles of Incorporation,
     (i) all holders of Class B Common Shares are entitled to convert any or all
     of  their  Class B  Common  Shares  to  Common  Shares  at any  time,  on a
     share-for-share  basis,  and (ii) the Company may not issue any  additional
     Class B Common  Shares  unless such  issuance is in  connection  with share
     dividends on or share splits of Class B Common Shares.

(1)  Mr. Mixon is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
     of the Company.  The Common Shares  beneficially owned by Mr. Mixon include
     496,720  Common  Shares  which may be acquired  upon the  exercise of stock
     options  during the 60 days  following  February 26, 1999.  For purposes of
     calculating the percentage of outstanding Common Shares  beneficially owned
     by Mr. Mixon and his  percentage of total voting  power,  the Common Shares
     which he had the right to acquire  during  that period by exercise of stock
     options  are  deemed to be  outstanding.  The  number  of  shares  shown as
     beneficially  owned by Mr. Mixon  include  14,966 Common Shares held in the
     name of Roundwood Capital L.L.P., which represent his ownership interest in
     Roundwood  Capital L.L.P. The number of shares shown as beneficially  owned
     by Mr.  Mixon  does not  include  398,399  Common  Shares  which  have been
     transferred  into  two  family  trusts.  The  number  of  shares  shown  as
     beneficially  owned by Mr.  Mixon does not include  251,376  Common  Shares
     which have been  transferred  into two  trusts  for the  benefit of his two
     children. Mr. Mixon disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

(2)  Mr.   Richey   is   President-Invacare   Technologies   and   Senior   Vice
     President-Total  Quality  Management and is a Director of the Company.  The
     Common Shares  beneficially  owned by Mr.  Richey  include  254,940  Common
     Shares which may be acquired upon the exercise of stock options  during the
     60 days  following  February 26,  1999.  For  purposes of  calculating  the
     percentage of outstanding  Common Shares  beneficially  owned by Mr. Richey
     and his  percentage of total voting  power,  the Common Shares which he had
     the right to acquire  during that  period by exercise of stock  options are
     deemed to be outstanding.

(3)  The Invacare  Corporation Stock Bonus Trust and Plan is an employee benefit
     plan  established  and operated as a trust for the benefit of the Company's
     employees.  The Charles Schwab Trust Company is the trustee of the Invacare
     Corporation Stock Bonus Plan, with Invacare Corporation as Administrator of
     the Plan.  As such,  the shares held by the Plan are voted at the Company's
     direction.

(4)  The number of Common Shares beneficially owned is based upon a Schedule 13G
     filed for share ownership as of January 31, 1999.

(5)  The  Schedule  13G  was  filed  by  the  Equitable  Companies  Incorporated
     (Equitable Companies);  AXA, which beneficially owns a majority interest in
     Equitable  Companies;  and the Mutuelles AXA, as a group which beneficially
     owns a majority  interest in AXA.  The Common  Shares  reported are held by
     Equitable  Companies acting as a parent holding company with respect to the
     holdings by its following  subsidiaries:  Alliance Capital Management L.P.,
     an Investment Adviser, has sole voting power with respect to 954,495 shares
     of the  1,522,941  Common  Shares  held,  and sole  dispositive  power with
     respect to all 1,522,941 of the Common Shares held. AXA Rosenberg (U.S.), a
     holding  company,  has sole  voting  power  with  respect to 610,300 of the
     Common Share held, and shared  dispositive power with respect to 796,500 of
     the Common Share held. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation,
     an Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer, has sole voting power with respect
     to 10,246 of the  Commons  shares  held and shared  dispositive  power with
     respect to 56,870 of the Common  Shares  held.  Wood,  Struthers & Winthrop
     Management Corp., an Investment Adviser, has sole voting power with respect
     to 385,400  shares of the 477,215  Common Shares held and sole  dispositive
     power with respect to all 477,215 Common Shares held.

                                       3

Share ownership of management. The following table sets forth as of February 26,
1999, the share ownership of all Directors, each of the Named Executive Officers
(as defined below) and of all Directors and executive officers as a group:



                                                                             Class B
                                                Common Shares             Common Shares
                                              beneficially owned        beneficially owned**
                                             -------------------        --------------------
                                                                                                    Percentage
                                            Number                     Number                        of total
 Name of beneficial owner                  of shares    Percentage    of shares    Percentage      voting power
 ------------------------                  ---------    ----------    ---------    ----------      ------------
                                                                                          
 Gerald B. Blouch (4).......................  241,740          *           -           -                 *
 Francis J.Callahan.........................  258,966          *           -           -                 *
 Frank B.Carr...............................   99,700          *           -           -                 *
 Michael F. Delaney.........................   11,000          *           -           -                 *
 Whitney Evans..............................   42,005          *           -           -                 *
 Bernadine P.  Healy .......................    8,922          *           -           -                 *
 Thomas R. Miklich(4).......................   79,296          *           -           -                 *
 A. Malachi Mixon, III(1)...................  941,739         3.2%      703,912      49.1%             17.6%
 Dan T. Moore, III..........................  450,684         1.5%         -           -                1.0%
 E. P. Nalley(3)............................  206,054          *           -           -                 *
 Joseph B. Richey, II(2)....................  760,366         2.6%      376,262      26.3%             10.0%
 Louis F.J. Slangen(4)......................  162,335          *           -           -                 *
 William M.Weber............................  275,806          *           -           -                 *
 All executive officers and Directors                                                            
 as a group(20 persons)(4)..................3,851,161        12.6%    1,080,174      75.4%             32.3%


*    Less than 1%  of outstanding  shares of such class.
**   Pursuant to the Company's  Amended and Restated  Articles of Incorporation,
     (i) all holders of Class B Common Shares are entitled to convert any or all
     of  their  Class B  Common  Shares  to  Common  Shares  at any  time,  on a
     share-for-share  basis,  and (ii) the Company may not issue any  additional
     Class B Common  Shares  unless such  issuance is in  connection  with share
     dividends on or share splits of Class B Common Shares.

     (1) See Footnote 1 to the preceding table.

     (2) See Footnote 2 to the preceding table.

     (3) Mr.  Nalley is a Director  of the  Company.  All of the  Common  Shares
         listed as  beneficially owned by Mr. Nalley are owned by trusts for the
         benefit of Mr. Nalley.

     (4) The  Common  Shares  beneficially  owned  by the  Company's  executive
         officers and Directors as a group include 1,411,437 Common Shares which
         may be acquired  upon  the  exercise  of stock  options  during  the 60
         days following February 26, 1999.  For  purposes of  calculating   the 
         percentage of outstanding Common  Shares  beneficially  owned  by  the 
         Company's  executive  officers  and  Directors as  a  group and  their 
         percentage of total voting power,Common Shares which they had the right
         to acquire  during said period by exercise  of stock options are deemed
         to be  outstanding.  The number of Common  Shares that may be acquired 
         during  such  period by the  exercise  of stock  options for the noted
         individuals is as follows:  Mr. Blouch,  219,740  shares;  Mr. Miklich,
         72,600 shares; and Mr. Slangen, 137,415 shares.


                                       4

             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange
Act")  requires the Company's  executive  officers and Directors and persons who
own 10% or more of a registered  class of the Company's  equity  securities,  to
file reports of ownership  and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").  Executive  officers,
Directors and beneficial  holders of more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock
are required by the Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of
all Forms 3, 4 and 5 that they file.

         Based solely upon the  Company's  review of the copies of such forms it
has received, the Company believes that all of its executive officers, Directors
and beneficial  holders of more than 10% of the Company's  Common Stock complied
with all filing  requirements  applicable  to them with respect to  transactions
during the fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1998,  except for the  inadvertent
failure to file a Form 3 within ten days of  becoming  an  executive  officer by
Steve S. Clark, Neal J. Curran, David A.Johnson and Mike Perry. This information
was included in their respective year-end Form 5.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         Under the Company's  Code of  Regulations,  as amended,  the authorized
number of  Directors of the Company  shall be not less than five,  nor more than
fifteen.  At a meeting of the Board of  Directors on  [November  1],  1999,  the
Directors (i) decided to increase the number of Directors  from eleven to twelve
and (ii) elected James C. Boland to fill the newly created vacancy.  The members
of the  Company's  Board of Directors are divided into three classes with a term
of office of three years,  with the term of one class expiring each year. At the
Annual Meeting,  four Directors will be elected to serve a three-year term until
the Annual  Meeting in 2002 or until  their  successors  have been  elected  and
qualified.  Under Ohio law and the  Company's  Amended and Restated  Articles of
Incorporation,  the  individuals  receiving the greatest number of votes cast at
the Annual  Meeting will be elected as  Directors  of the Company.  Accordingly,
assuming a quorum exists,  abstentions and broker  non-votes will have no effect
on the election of  Directors.  Holders of shares  entitling  them to exercise a
majority of the voting  power of the  Company,  present in person or by proxy at
the Annual Meeting, will constitute a quorum for such meetings.

         The Proxy holders named in the accompanying  Proxy or their substitutes
will vote such Proxy at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof "FOR" the
election  of  the  four  nominees  for  Director  as  named  below,  unless  the
shareholder  provides instruction by marking the appropriate space on the Proxy,
that  authority  to vote is  withheld.  Each of the  nominees,  is  presently  a
Director  of the  Company  and has  indicated  their  willingness  to serve as a
Director if elected.  If any nominee  should  become  unavailable  for  election
(which contingency is not now contemplated or foreseen), it is intended that the
shares represented by the Proxy will be voted for such substitute nominee as may
be named by the Board of Directors.  In no event will the accompanying  Proxy be
voted for more than four  nominees or for  persons  other than those named below
and any such substitute nominee for any of them.

                              Nominees for Election

Name                               Age     Position with the Company
- ----                               ---     -----------------------------------
A. Malachi Mixon, III (3)(4)       58      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Frank B. Carr (1)(4)               71      Director
Michael F. Delaney (4)             50      Director
Dr. Bernadine P. Healy (2)         54      Director


                                       5

                         Directors Continuing in Office

Gerald B. Blouch (6)              52       President, Chief Operating Officer 
                                           and a Director
James C. Boland(5)                59       Director
Francis J. Callahan (2)(3)(6)     75       Director
Dan T. Moore, III (1)(3)(6)       59       Director
Joseph B. Richey, II (6)          62       President - Invacare Technologies,
                                           Senior Vice President - Total Quality
                                           Management and a Director
Whitney Evans (2)(4)(5)           62       Director
E.P. Nalley (1)(4)(5)             79       Director
William M. Weber (1)(2)(5)        59       Director

- ----------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.         (5) Term as Director expires in 2000.
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.  (6) Term as Director expires in 2001.
(3) Member of the Nominating Committee.
(4) Member of the Investment Committee.

         A. Malachi Mixon,  III has been Chief Executive  Officer since 1979 and
Chairman of the Board since 1983.  Mr.  Mixon has been a Director of the Company
since 1979 and also served as President until 1996,  when Gerald B. Blouch,  the
Company's Chief Operating  Officer was elected  President by the Company's Board
of  Directors.  Mr.  Mixon  serves as a Director  of The Lamson & Sessions  Co.,
Cleveland,  Ohio,  a New York Stock  Exchange  listed  company and a supplier of
engineered  thermoplastic  products,  The Sherwin-Williams  Company,  Cleveland,
Ohio,  a  New  York  Stock  Exchange  listed  company  and  a  manufacturer  and
distributor of coatings and related products, and NCS HealthCare, Inc., a NASDAQ
listed  company  and  a  provider  of  pharmacy   services  to  long  term  care
institutions.  Mr. Mixon also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The
Cleveland  Clinic  Foundation,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  one  of the  world's  leading
academic medical centers.

         Frank B. Carr has been a Director  since 1982.  From 1983 to 1996,  Mr.
Carr was a Managing Director of McDonald & Company Securities,  Inc., Cleveland,
Ohio, an investment banking and brokerage firm, and a partner in its predecessor
firm  (McDonald  & Company)  since  1968.  Mr. Carr also serves as a Director of
Preformed  Line Products  Company,  Cleveland,  Ohio, a supplier of supports and
connectors for electric power and communications lines.

         Michael F.  Delaney has been a Director  since  1986.  From 1983 to the
present,  Mr.  Delaney has been the  Associate  Director of  Development  of the
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Washington, D.C.

     Dr.  Bernadine  P. Healy has been a Director  since 1996.  From 1995 to the
present, Dr. Healy has been the Dean and Professor of Medicine of the College of
Medicine and Public Health of The Ohio State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio. From
1994 to 1995,  Dr. Healy served as Director of Health and Science  Policy at The
Cleveland Clinic Foundation,  Cleveland, Ohio; and from 1991 to 1993, she served
as Director of the National  Institutes  of Health in Bethesda,  Maryland.  From
1985 to 1991, Dr. Healy served as the Chairman of the Research  Institute of The
Cleveland  Clinic  Foundation,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Dr. Healy is a Trustee of the
Battelle  Memorial  Institute  in  Columbus,  Ohio.  Dr.  Healy also serves as a
Director  of  Medtronic,  Inc.,  a New York Stock  Exchange  listed  company and
producer of cardiac  pacemakers,  National City  Corporation,  Cleveland,  Ohio,
since 1997, a New York Stock Exchange  listed company and a bank holding company
and Ashland,  Inc.,  Covington,  Kentucky also a New York Stock Exchange  listed
company in oil and gas operations.  Dr. Healy has been a Medical Contributor for
CBS News.


                                       6

     Gerald B. Blouch has been  President  and a Director  of the Company  since
November 1996. Mr. Blouch has been Chief  Operating  Officer since December 1994
and Chairman - Invacare International since December 1993. Previously Mr. Blouch
was  President - Homecare  Division  from March 1994 to December 1994 and Senior
Vice President - Homecare Division from September 1992 to March 1994. Mr. Blouch
served as Chief  Financial  Officer of the Company from May 1990 to May 1993 and
Treasurer of the Company from March 1991 to May 1993.

         James C.  Boland was  elected as a Director of the Company by the Board
of Directors,  pursuant to Article III,  Section 2(a) of the  Company's  Amended
Code of  Regulations,  in November  1998. Mr. Boland has served as President and
Chief Executive Officer of CAVS/Gund Arena Company (the Cleveland  Cavaliers and
the  Cleveland  Rockers  professional  teams and Gund Arena) since January 1998.
Prior to his retirement from Ernst & Young in September, 1998, Mr. Boland served
for 22 years as a  partner  of Ernst & Young in  various  roles  including  Vice
Chairman  and  Regional  Managing  Partner  as well as a  member  of the  firm's
Management Committee from 1988 to 1996 and as Vice Chairman of National Accounts
from 1997 to his  retirement.  Mr. Boland is a Director of The  Sherwin-Williams
Company,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  a New York  Stock  Exchange  listed  company  and a
manufacturer and distributor of coatings and related products,  and is a Trustee
of Leadership Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, Bluecoats, Inc. and The
50 Club of Cleveland.

     Francis J.  Callahan  has been a  Director  since  1980.  Mr.  Callahan  is
currently  Chairman of the Board of  Directors of  Swagelok,  formerly  Crawford
Fitting Company,  Cleveland, Ohio a manufacturer of tube fittings and valves. He
also served as President from 1980 to 1998 of Swagelok. Mr. Callahan serves as a
Trustee of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

     Dan T. Moore,  III has been a Director  since 1980.  Mr. Moore has been the
founder  and owner of Dan T.  Moore Co.  since  1979;  the  principal  owner and
Chairman of Soundwich,  Inc. since 1988, Flow Polymers, Inc. since 1985, Perfect
Impression  since  1984 and  Advanced  Ceramics  since  1993,  all of which  are
manufacturing  companies.  He has been a Director of U.S. Enrichment Corporation
(NYSE)  since  1998.  Mr.  Moore  is  also a  Trustee  of the  Cleveland  Clinic
Foundation, and is Chairman of Cleveland Clinic Home Care.

         Joseph B.  Richey,  II has been a  Director  since 1980 and in 1992 was
named  President-Invacare  Technologies and Senior Vice President-Total  Quality
Management.   Previously   Mr.  Richey  was  Senior  Vice  President  -  Product
Development from 1984 to 1992, Senior Vice President and General Manager - North
American  Operations  from  September  1989 to September  1992.  Mr. Richey also
serves as a Director of Steris  Corporation,  Cleveland,  Ohio, a New York Stock
Exchange listed manufacturer and distributor of medical sterilizing equipment, a
Director of Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a New York Stock
Exchange listed  manufacturer of vacuum cleaners,  a Director of Unique Mobility
Inc., Golden,  Colorado,  an American Stock Exchange listed engineering  concern
and  manufacturer  of high  efficiency  permanent  magnet motors and  electronic
controls,  and Chairman of the Board of Directors of  NeuroControl  Corporation,
Cleveland,   Ohio,  a  privately  held  company,   which  develops  and  markets
electromedical  stimulation  systems  restoring  function to paralyzed limbs and
muscles.

         Whitney Evans has been a Director since 1980. From 1980 to the present,
Mr. Evans has been a private  investor.  From 1998 to the present,  Mr Evans has
been a Director of Victory Technology,  Inc. and is currently Co-Chairman of the
Board of Directors and Senior Executive Vice-President. Victory Technology, Inc.
is an internet based distance learning company based in Sonoma, Ca. From 1983 to
1997,  Mr. Evans was an officer and a Director of Pine Tree  Investments,  Inc.,
Cleveland, Ohio, a business and a real estate investment firm.

     E. P.  Nalley has been a  Director  since  1983.  From 1987 to 1991 when he
retired,  Mr.  Nalley  was the  Company's  Senior  Vice  President  - Sales  and
Assistant to the  President.  Mr. Nalley is now a private  investor.  Mr. Nalley
also serves as a Director of Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio,
a New York Stock Exchange listed manufacturer of vacuum cleaners.

                                       7


         William M. Weber has been a Director  since 1988.  In 1994,  Mr.  Weber
became President of Roundcap L.L.C. and a principal of Roundwood Capital L.L.P.,
a partnership that invests in public and private  companies.  From 1968 to 1994,
Mr. Weber was  President of Weber,  Wood,  Medinger,  Inc.,  Cleveland,  Ohio, a
commercial real estate brokerage and consulting firm.



     INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of Directors held four meetings  during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee,  a  Nominating  Committee  and an  Investment  Committee.  The  Audit
Committee  reviews the  activities  of the  Company's  independent  and internal
auditors and various  company  policies and practices.  The Audit  Committee met
twice during the last fiscal year. The Compensation Committee approves the grant
of stock  options and reviews and  determines  the  compensation  of certain key
executives. The Compensation Committee met one time during the last fiscal year.
The Nominating Committee recommends  candidates for election as Directors of the
Company and will consider all qualified  nominees  recommended by  shareholders.
Such  recommendations  should be sent to Francis J.  Callahan,  Chairman  of the
Nominating  Committee,  Invacare  Corporation,  One Invacare Way, P.O. Box 4028,
Elyria, Ohio 44036-2125.  The Nominating  Committee met one time during the last
fiscal year. The Investment Committee,  which met one time during 1998, monitors
the status of investments by the Company's  Profit Sharing Plan and  investments
made by the Company's captive insurance subsidiary. During the last fiscal year,
each Director  attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of
meetings  of the  Board of  Directors  held  during  the  period  he served as a
Director and (ii) the total number of meetings  held by  Committees of the Board
on which he served.

     COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         The Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee")
is  responsible  for  reviewing the  Company's  existing and proposed  executive
compensation  plans and making  determinations  regarding  the contents of these
plans and the awards to be made thereunder. The current members of the Committee
are Whitney Evans, Francis J. Callahan,  Jr., Dr. Bernadine P. Healy and William
M.Weber, all of whom are non-employee Directors of the Company.

         Set  forth  below  is  a  discussion  of  the  Company's   compensation
philosophy,  together  with  a  discussion  of  the  factors  considered  by the
Committee  in  determining  the 1998  compensation  of the  Company's  executive
officers named in this Proxy Statement.

         The Committee has determined,  as a performance-driven  business,  that
the Company  should  reward  outstanding  financial  results  with  commensurate
compensation.  The  Committee's  strategy for carrying out this philosophy is to
link  both  annual  and  long-term  executive  compensation  with the  Company's
financial  and  operating   performance.   The  Committee  also  recognizes  the
importance of maintaining compensation at competitive levels in order to attract
and retain talented executives.

         In  order to  gauge  the  competitiveness  of the  Company's  executive
compensation  levels,  the Committee  receives  market data from an  independent
consulting firm regarding executive  compensation paid by other companies having
similar annual revenues, as well as larger employers with which the company must
compete  for  talent  ("Comparable  Employers").  The  Committee  relies  on its
independent  consultant  to  identify  a  representative  group  of  potentially
competitive  employers.  In determining the group of Comparable  Employers,  the
independent  consultant  assembled  market  data  on  companies  having  similar
projected revenues, with particular emphasis on durable goods manufacturers.  In
addition,  larger employers are surveyed as the Committee believes they are also
significant  competitors  for  executive  talent.  Thus,  the  Committee and its
independent  consultant  believe  the  Company's  most  direct  competitors  for
executive talent are not necessarily the companies that would be included in the
peer  group  established  to  compare  shareholder  returns.   Accordingly,  the
Comparable  Employers are not necessarily the same as the peer group utilized in
the Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return graph included in this Proxy
Statement.

                                       8


         The Committee also utilizes recommendations from the consulting firm on
various facets of the Company's executive compensation program. In general, base
salaries are established at market median levels for comparable positions but an
opportunity for  significantly  higher  compensation is provided  through annual
cash  bonuses.  These  opportunities  are dependent  upon material  year-to-year
improvement in earnings before income tax. In addition,  long-term  compensation
is awarded  exclusively  in the form of stock  options  in order to provide  key
executives with significant  financial benefits,  to the extent that shareholder
value is similarly enhanced.

         Annual Base Salary.  Because the Company has determined to link overall
compensation  with  financial  performance,  the  base  salary  ranges  for  its
executives are targeted on an annual basis at approximately  the 50th percentile
of ranges  established  by Comparable  Employers for  executives  having similar
responsibilities.  The Committee  receives  annual survey  information  from the
independent  consultant and also reviews annual  recommendations  from the Chief
Executive  Officer ("CEO") in order to establish  appropriate  salary levels for
each of the executive  officers  (other than the CEO). The Committee  takes into
account  whether  each  executive  met  key  objectives  in both  financial  and
operating categories, as well as potential future contributions. A determination
is also made as to whether the base salary  provides an  appropriate  reward and
incentive  for the  executive  to sustain and enhance  the  Company's  long-term
superior performance.  Important financial performance objectives (some of which
may  not be  applicable  to all  executives)  include  net  sales,  income  from
operations,  cost  controls,  earnings  before  income tax and return on assets.
Operating  objectives vary for each executive and may change from  year-to-year.
Financial and operating objectives are considered  subjectively in the aggregate
and are not specifically  weighted in assessing  performance.  Increases in 1998
base salaries were based on the subjective judgment of the Committee taking into
account the CEO's comments regarding each executive's  achievement of applicable
1997  operating  and  financial  objectives  and the targeted  salary  ranges as
determined  by the  market  study  received  from  the  independent  consultant.
Resulting base salaries for the Company's executives (including the CEO) were at
or near the targeted range.

         In determining  the CEO's base salary for 1998, the Committee took into
account the survey  results  regarding a 50th  percentile  salary range of chief
executive  officers at  Comparable  Employers  and larger  employers  who may be
competing  for  executive  talent  and  the  financial  performance   objectives
described above. The Committee noted that key acquisition  activity  occurred in
the United States,  Europe, and Australia,  during 1996 and 1997 under the CEO's
leadership.  These  acquisitions  allowed the  Company to grow market  share and
extend  current  product  lines,  complement  existing  businesses,  utilize its
distribution strength and expand its geographic presence. The CEO is the leading
industry  spokesperson on behalf of the home medical equipment  industry putting
Invacare in a position to help shape  public  policy  instead of being forced to
react to change in policy.  Substantial  progress  was also made in meeting  the
Company's long-term strategic objectives that are set by management and reviewed
by the Board each year. It is the Committee's  opinion that these objectives are
a key to the ongoing success of the Company.  They also reflect the CEO's strong
understanding  of the  industry  and what is  required  to  continue  to sustain
superior financial and operating  performance.  The Committee also believes that
the CEO has instituted  actions that keep the Company's  strategic  direction in
line with the  ever-changing  marketplace  in which the company  operates.  This
includes his leadership role in identifying  strategic  initiatives that need to
be  accelerated  to keep this  Company  competitive  and  recognizing  the costs
associated with these initiatives.

         Annual  Cash  Bonus.  Consistent  with its  philosophy  that  executive
compensation  should be linked with the  Company's  financial  performance,  the
Committee has determined that annual total cash compensation (salary plus bonus)
should be targeted at the 75th market  percentile of Comparable  Employers  when
the Company meets  commensurately  challenging  financial  goals,  as previously
outlined, in addition to subjective factors as the Committee deems appropriate.

                                       9


         With the assistance of the  independent  consultant,  the Committee has
determined  (and  annually  reviews)  the  appropriate  bonus  targets  for each
executive  officer (as a  percentage  of his or her salary) so that annual total
cash  compensation  for such  executive  officer  will  reach  the  75th  market
percentile if targeted  earnings before income tax objectives are achieved,  but
with unlimited potential.  During this process, the Committee may also determine
that an executive's  performance (taking into account the same factors discussed
above  with  respect to base  salary)  and level of  responsibilities  warrant a
change in the bonus target percentage from the market norm.

         Each year,  the  Committee  considers the  recommendation  from the CEO
regarding the  appropriate  target for that year's earnings before income tax at
which target  bonuses will be earned.  Under normal  conditions,  no bonuses are
payable if earnings before income tax and unusual or non-recurring  charges does
not  improve  over the prior  year and  bonuses  increase  on a linear  basis if
earnings before income tax exceeds the targeted level.  Targeted earnings before
income tax and unusual  items is  generally  set at a level which the  Committee
believes is challenging but achievable.

         The CEO's  annual  cash  bonus was  targeted  to  approximate  the 75th
percentile  of total  cash  compensation  paid to chief  executive  officers  by
Comparable  Employers if the Committee's earnings before income tax objective is
achieved. In determining the level of total cash compensation to be targeted for
the CEO in 1998,  the  Committee  took into  account the same factors and events
described above under the Annual Base Salary.  Actual earnings before income tax
improved  over 1997 levels  before the effect of the  non-recurring  and unusual
charge  taken in 1997.  The total  cash  compensation  paid for 1998,  including
bonus,  was slightly below the targeted 75th market  percentile as determined by
the  Committee  as the  results  were not up to the  targeted  level  set at the
beginning of the year.

         Survey data from the  independent  consultant  shows  annual  executive
bonuses as a percent  of net income at target  levels  remain  competitive  with
Comparable Employers.

         Long-Term  Compensation  Program. The Company's long-term  compensation
plan is  based  exclusively  on the  award  of stock  options.  Total  long-term
compensation  is targeted at  approximately  the 75th  percentile  for long-term
compensation by Comparable Employers but with unlimited potential. Stock options
generally are issued as  non-qualified  options  under the Invacare  Corporation
1994  Performance  Plan and granted at market price,  vest in accordance  with a
schedule established by the Committee and expire after ten (10) years.

         Each year, the Committee determines the appropriate  percentage of each
executive's  salary  which  should be targeted as  long-term  compensation.  The
targeted  percentage  of salary  and the  number of  options  proposed  for each
executive  officer may also be affected by the factors  previously  described in
establishing  base  salaries.  The number of options  granted to each  executive
officer is  determined  based upon the  previously  agreed upon target level for
long-term compensation and upon the projected value of options as reflected by a
valuation  formula  recommended  by the  independent  consultant.  The number of
options  granted to each executive in 1998 was based on the subjective  judgment
of  the  Committee,  taking  into  account  the  CEO's  comments  regarding  the
executive's   achievement  of  the  applicable   1997  operating  and  financial
objectives (as described  above under Annual Base Salary) and the targeted range
for  long-term  compensation.  No  particular  weight  was  assigned  to any one
operating  or  financial  objective.  Outstanding  options  held by an executive
officer are generally not considered when the Committee determines the number of
new options to be granted.  Utilizing the valuation  formula  recommended by the
Company's  independent  consultant,  options granted to the Company's executives
(including the CEO) resulted in a value of long-term compensation at or near the
targeted range for each executive.

         The  Committee  awarded  options  to the CEO in  1998  based  upon  the
foregoing  targets  and formula  and taking  into  account the same  factors and
events utilized in establishing the CEO's base salary for the year.

                                       10


         Other Matters.  The Committee believes that all long-term  compensation
awarded to key executives in 1998 is "performance-based" and, therefore, will be
deductible  notwithstanding Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
However,  the  Committee  has not adopted a policy  with  respect to whether all
future long-term or other  compensation will satisfy the requirements of Section
162(m). The Committee intends to make a determination with respect to this issue
on an annual basis.


                                      The Compensation Committee of the
                                      Board of Directors of Invacare Corporation

                                      Whitney Evans, Chairman
                                      Francis J. Callahan
                                      Dr. Bernadine P. Healy
                                      William M. Weber



                                       11


                      SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPHS

         The following graph compares the yearly  cumulative total return on the
Company's  Common  Shares  against  the yearly  cumulative  total  return of the
companies  listed on the  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock  Index,  the Russell  2000
Stock Index and a Peer Group of companies selected on a line-of-business basis.




                    1993     1994      1995      1996      1997      1998
                    ----     ----      ----      ----      ----      ----
                                                    
Invacare             100      125       184       201       159       179
S&P 500              100      101       139       170       227       288
Russell 2000         100       97       122       140       169       163
Peer Group           100       90        61        61        68        51


     * Sunrise Medical Inc.(SMD); Everest & Jennings International Ltd. (EJ) was
acquired by Graham-Field  Health  Products,  Inc. (GFI) in the fourth quarter of
1996.  Everest & Jennings  International Ltd.  shareholders  received .35 common
shares of  Graham-Field  Health  Products,  Inc.  for each  Everest  &  Jennings
International  Ltd.  common  share owned.  For purposes of the above graph,  the
return for Everest & Jennings  International  Ltd. within the peer group for the
period  November 27, 1996 to December 31, 1998 was calculated with the return of
Graham-Field Health Products, Inc. at the conversion rate noted above.

The above graph  assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1993 in the Common Shares
of Invacare  Corporation,  S&P 500 Index,  Russell 2000 Index and the respective
Line-of-Business  Peer  Group,   including  reinvestment  of  dividends  through
December 31, 1998.


                                       12


                       COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

         The table below shows  information  for the three years ended  December
31, 1998  concerning the annual and long-term  compensation  for services in all
capacities to the Company of the Chief Executive Officer and the four other most
highly  compensated  executive  officers  of the Company  (the "Named  Executive
Officers") for the year ended December 31, 1998.




                                                      SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Long-Term
                                                  Annual Compensation                   Compensation
                                    ---------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                                       Other                              All Other
                                                                       Annual           Securities        Compen-
            Name and                         Salary (1)  Bonus (1)    Compen-          Underlying        sation (2)
       Principal Position           Year       ($)          ($)       sation ($)        Options (#)          ($)
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                                                            
 A. Malachi Mixon, III              1998      635,000      594,400       -                120,750             76,225
      Chairman and Chief            1997      605,050      455,000       -                127,600             76,741
      Executive Officer             1996      540,000      513,000       -                 81,000             74,924

 Gerald B. Blouch                   1998      392,000      367,000       -                 57,600            131,135
      President and                 1997      370,000      245,000       -                 70,000            102,116
      Chief Operating Officer       1996      320,000      272,000       -                 38,400            103,847

 Joseph B. Richey, II               1998      296,000      219,000       -                 17,900             70,961
      President-Invacare            1997      285,000      176,000       -                 41,000             82,529
      Technologies and Senior       1996      270,000      203,000       -                 24,300             89,336
      Vice President-Total
      Quality Management

 Thomas R. Miklich,                 1998      281,000      263,000       -                 41,300             76,597
      Chief Financial Officer,      1997      265,000      159,000       -                 50,000             58,773
      General Counsel,              1996      240,000      180,000       -                 21,600             60,583
      Treasurer and Corporate
      Secretary

 Louis F.J. Slangen                 1998      239,000      147,000       -                 18,600             67,165
      Senior Vice President -       1997      230,000      116,000       -                 20,500             57,555
      Sales & Marketing             1996      211,000      132,000       -                 12,700             58,775
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



(1)      Salary and Bonus amounts for 1996 may include amounts  deferred under 
         the 401(k) feature of the Company's  Profit Sharing Plan or the non-
         qualified 401(k) Plus Benefit Equalization Plan.

(2)      The amounts disclosed in this column include: (a) Company contributions
         in the  amount of $3,200  for each of Messrs.  Mixon,  Blouch,  Richey,
         Miklich  and  Slangen  under  the  Company's  401(k)  plan,  a  defined
         contribution plan; (b) Company contributions in the amounts of $18,282,
         $9,540,  $5,961, $5,414 and $3,900 for Messrs.  Mixon, Blouch,  Richey,
         Miklich and  Slangen,  respectively,  under the  Company's  401(k) Plus
         Benefit  Equalization  Plan, a defined  contribution  plan; (c) Company
         contributions  in the  amounts  of $6,400,  for each of Messrs.  Mixon,
         Blouch, Richey, Miklich and Slangen, under the Company's Profit Sharing
         Plan, a defined  contribution  plan; (d) Company  contributions  in the
         amounts of $36,563,  $19,080,  $11,921,  $10,828 and $7,800 for Messrs.
         Mixon, Blouch,  Richey,  Miklich and Slangen,  respectively,  under the
         Company's   Profit  Sharing  Benefit   Equalization   Plan,  a  defined
         contribution  plan;  (e) the  payment  of  premiums  on group term life
         insurance policy of $4,050,  $1,952,  $3,134,  $1,354, $951 for Messrs.
         Mixon,  Blouch,  Richey,  Miklich and  Slangen,  respectively;  (f) the
         dollar value of  compensatory  split-dollar  life  insurance  benefits,
         under the Company's  Executive Life  Insurance  Plan, in the amounts of
         $82,516,  $38,317,  $44,973 and $41,677  for  Messrs.  Blouch,  Richey,
         Miklich  and  Slangen,  respectively.  Mr.  Mixon is not  covered  by a
         split-dollar  life  insurance  benefit;  (g)  payments by the  Company,
         related to premiums  under the Company's  Executive  Disability  Income
         Plan, in the amounts of $8,447,  $2,028,  $4,428 and $3,237 for Messrs.
         Blouch, Richey,  Miklich and Slangen,  respectively (Mr. Mixon does not
         participate in the Company's Executive  Disability Income Plan) and (h)
         payment by the Company for the premium of a disability insurance policy
         for Mr. Mixon in 1998 amounted to $7,730.



                                       13

                            COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

         The Company paid all Directors  who were not  employees  ("Non-employee
Directors") a $16,000  annual  retainer plus $2,000 per Board meeting  attended.
Further,  Non-employee  Directors  are  eligible  to  participate  in a Deferred
Compensation  Plan  adopted in 1992,  pursuant  to which they may elect to defer
receipt of the  compensation  payable by the  Company  for their  services  as a
Director,  and if such  compensation  is elected by the  Director in the form of
Common  Shares,  the Company will  deposit an  additional  25% of such  deferred
compensation into the applicable  trust. None of the Non-employee  Directors had
an effective election to defer 1998 compensation.  In addition, the Non-employee
Directors  were  eligible for a bonus of $4,000 based on profit  objectives  for
1998  and a  greater  amount  if the  objectives  were  exceeded.  Based on 1998
operating results,  each of the Non-employee  Directors have been paid $3,640 as
profit (excluding the non-recurring  unusual charge) improved over 1997, but the
target  level at the  beginning  of the year was not  achieved.  For  1999,  the
Non-employee  Directors  are  eligible to receive a bonus of $4,000,  if certain
profit objectives are met. The bonus amount can be increased if those objectives
are exceeded.

                        OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

          The following  table shows, as to the Named  Executive  Officers,  the
stock options granted in 1998 under the Invacare  Corporation  1994  Performance
Plan.




                                 Individual Grants
                              ------------------------------------------------------
                                                % of
                                 Number         Total
                                  of           Options
                              Securities       Granted      Exercise
                              Underlying          to          Price                       Potential Realizable Value
                                 Options       Employees       (3)                         at Assumed Annual Rates
                             Granted (2)       in Fiscal      ($ per     Expiration      of Share Price Appreciation
           Name                   (#)            Year         Share)        Date             for Option Term (1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------
                                                                                            5% ($)            10%($)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------
                                                                                           
A. Malachi Mixon, III          120,750          23.6%        23.63       3/5/08          1,794,000           4,546,000
Gerald B. Blouch                57,600          11.3%        23.63       3/5/08            856,000           2,169,000
Joseph B. Richey, II            17,900           3.5%        23.63       3/5/08            266,000             674,000
Thomas R. Miklich               41,300           8.1%        23.63       3/5/08            614,000           1,555,000
Louis F.J. Slangen              18,600           3.6%        23.63       3/5/08            276,000             700,000

All Shareholders (4)               N/A           N/A          N/A          N/A         425,100,000       1,105,300,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------


(1)  Potential  Realizable Value is based on assumed annual growth rates for the
     term  of the  option.  The  assumed  rates  of 5% and  10%  are  set by the
     Securities and Exchange Commission and are not intended to be a forecast of
     the  Company's  Common  Share price.  There is no assurance  that the value
     realized will be at or near the value estimated in the Potential Realizable
     Value applied to value the stock  options.  Actual gains, if any, on stock 
     options exercised are dependent on the actual performance of the stock.

(2)  Options become exercisable on March 31, over four years at a rate of 25% 
     per year, commencing in 1999.

(3)  The exercise price is equal to the fair market value of the Company's 
     Common Shares on the date of grant.

(4)  The potential  gain  realizable by all shareholders (based on 28,139,118 
     Common Shares and 1,433,407 Class B Common Shares outstanding at the 
     exercised price of $23.63  per  share as of  the grant date of March 5, 
     1998) at 5% and 10% assumed  annual  rates over a  term of 10 years is  
     provided as a  comparison to the potential gain realizable by the Named 
     Executive Officers at the same assumed annual rates of appreciation in 
     share value over the same 10-year term.  The value of a Common Share would 
     appreciate to approximately $38.00 and $61.00 per share at the assumed
     5% and 10% annual growth rates, respectively.


         Each of the options  issued  under the Stock  Option  Plans  includes a
provision  which provides that the option shall become  immediately  exercisable
(notwithstanding  any vesting schedule  otherwise  contained in the option) upon
the  commencement  of a tender for the  Company's  Common  Shares or at any time
within  90 days  prior to a  dissolution,  liquidation  or  certain  mergers  or
consolidations  of  the  Company.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  such a  merger  or
consolidation,  the option shall be subject to such  adjustment  or amendment as
the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of  Directors  deems  appropriate  and
equitable.  Under the terms of the Stock Option  Plans,  the  Committee may also
grant reload options under such circumstances as it deems appropriate.

                                       14


                    OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE

    The table below shows  information with respect to options exercised by, and
the value of  unexercised  options  under the Stock  Option Plans for, the Named
Executive Officers.



    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           Aggregated Option Exercises in 1998 and Option Value at Year-End 1998

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 Number of                     Number of Securities       Value of Unexercised In-the-
                                   Shares         Value       Underlying Unexercised            Money Options at
                                Acquired on     Realized      Options at 12/31/98 (#)           12/31/98 (2)($)  
              Name              Exercise (#)     (1) ($)     --------------------------- -------------------------------
                                                             Exercisable  Unexercisable  Exercisable     Unexercisable
    -------------------------- --------------- ------------ ---------------------------- -------------------------------
                                                                                          
    A. Malachi Mixon, III            60,000    1,354,386       478,370      275,300      6,017,199          173,731
    Gerald B. Blouch                   -           -           211,190      137,850      2,456,423           81,450
    Joseph B. Richey, II             50,000    1,128,661       249,090       66,650      3,676,719           47,663
    Thomas R. Miklich                  -           -            74,950       94,550        506,550           50,138
    Louis F.J. Slangen                 -           -           134,415       43,325      1,801,908           27,975
    -------------------------- --------------- ------------ ---------------------------- -------------------------------


(1) Represents the difference  between the option exercise price and the closing
    price of the Common Shares on the NASDAQ  National Market System on the date
    of exercise.

(2) The "Value of Unexercised  In-the-Money Options at 12/31/98" is equal to the
    difference between the option exercise price and the closing price of $24.00
    of a Common Share on the NASDAQ National Market System on December 31, 1998.

                                       15


                                  PENSION PLANS

         The Company has  established a Supplemental  Executive  Retirement Plan
for all  executive  officers to  supplement  other  savings plans offered by the
Company to provide a specific level of replacement  compensation for retirement.
The annual  benefit is a single-life  annuity in an amount equal to a portion of
final earnings  (maximum is 50% at 15 years of service).  This annual benefit is
reduced by the annual value of the Company contributions to the qualified Profit
Sharing Plan, Company  contributions to the nonqualified  401(k) Plus and Profit
Sharing  Equalization Plans, and one-half of the annual Social Security benefit.
The plan is a  nonqualified  plan and therefore the benefits  accrued under this
plan are subject to the claims of the Company's  general  creditors in the event
of bankruptcy.  The benefits will be paid (i) from an irrevocable  grantor trust
funded from the Company's  general funds or (ii) be paid directly by the Company
from general funds.


         The following table reflects the estimated annual  single-life  annuity
payment,  without  reductions for applicable  offsets,  payable to a participant
retiring in 1998 at age 65.

                                  Pension Table

      ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------
                                           Years of Service (2)
                                   ------------ ------------- ------------
           Remuneration (1)               5          10            15
      ---------------------------- ------------ ------------- ------------

                 200,000              33,333       66,667       100,000
                 300,000              50,000      100,000       150,000
                 400,000              66,667      133,333       200,000
                 500,000              83,333      166,667       250,000
                 600,000             100,000      200,000       300,000
                 700,000             116,667      233,333       350,000
                 800,000             133,333      266,667       400,000
                 900,000             150,000      300,000       450,000
               1,000,000             166,667      333,333       500,000
               1,100,000             183,333      366,667       550,000
               1,200,000             200,000      400,000       600,000
      ---------------------------- ------------ ------------- ------------

(1)      Remuneration for purposes of calculating pension benefit based on final
         base salary and target bonus.

(2)      The pension benefits represent annual single-life  annuity values 
         subject to reduction by applicable offsets (as described above). 
         For purposes of estimating a pension benefit as of  December 31, 1998, 
         the  current  years of  service credited for the Named  Executive 
         Officers are 18, 9, 14, 6 and 11 years for Messrs.  Mixon,  Blouch, 
         Richey, Miklich and Slangen, respectively.

          TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

         Severance  Pay  Agreements.  To  ensure  continuity  and the  continued
dedication  of key  executives  during any period of  uncertainty  caused by the
possible  threat of a  takeover,  the Company has  entered  into  severance  pay
agreements  with certain key  executives,  including each of the Named Executive
Officers.  In the event there is a Change of Control (as that term is defined in
the agreements) of the Company and the employment of the  contracting  executive
terminates  under  certain  conditions  described in the  agreements at any time
during the three year period  following a Change of Control of the Company,  the
executive will receive an agreed upon amount of severance pay.

                                       16


         For all of the Named Executive  Officers,  the severance pay agreements
provide that upon  termination for any reason other than death,  Disability,  by
the  Company for Cause or by the  executive  for other than Good Reason (as such
terms are defined in the agreements), the executive will receive, in addition to
accrued  salary,  bonus and  vacation  pay:  (a) a lump sum cash amount equal to
three times annual base salary plus the executive's  target bonus; (b) continued
participation in the Company's  employee welfare benefit plans and other benefit
arrangements for a period of three years following termination;  and (c) 401(k),
401(k) Plus, profit sharing and retirement benefits so that the total retirement
benefits received will be equal to the retirement benefits which would have been
received had such executive's  employment with the Company  continued during the
three year period following termination.

         The salary and other benefits  provided by the severance pay agreements
will be payable  from the  Company's  general  funds.  The Company has agreed to
indemnify such  executives for any legal expense  incurred in the enforcement of
their rights under the severance pay agreements.

           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

         The members of the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors 
during 1998 were Whitney  Evans,  Francis J.  Callahan, Jr., Dr. Bernadine P. 
Healy and William M. Weber.

         During 1996, the Company became an investor in Unique Mobility, Inc., a
world leader in the  development of high  performance DC Motors.  Messr.  Richey
serves on the Unique  Mobility  board of  directors.  During  1998,  the Company
purchased  Gearless/Brushless  motors from  Unique  Mobility  for  approximately
$155,000.

         During 1998, the Company  purchased  travel services from a third party
private aircraft charter company.  One of the aircrafts  available to be used by
the charter company is owned by Messrs. Mixon, Richey and Callahan.  The Company
paid approximately $468,000 to the charter company for use of the aircraft owned
by Messrs.  Mixon,  Richey and Callahan.  Invacare  believes that the prices and
terms  charged are no less  favorable  than those  which could be obtained  from
unrelated parties.

         As of February,  1999,  certain executives were indebted to the company
based on loans approved by the compensation  committee pursuant to its executive
compensation  philosophy and the Company's  overall  compensation  program.  The
loans  are  for a term  of  four  years  and  bear  interest  at the  rate of 6%
compounded  annually.  Loans have been made to Messrs.  Mixon,  Blouch,  Richey,
Miklich and Slangen, in the amounts of $320,000,  $100,000,  $125,000,  $110,000
and $80,000, respectively. No loans were made in 1998.

                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         The Board of  Directors of the Company has selected the firm of Ernst &
Young L.L.P.,  independent public  accountants,  to examine and audit the annual
financial  statements  of the Company and its  subsidiaries  for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1999.  Representatives  of Ernst & Young L.L.P. are expected
to be present at the Annual  Meeting and they will have an opportunity to make a
statement  should they so desire.  In  addition,  they will also be available to
respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of Directors  does not know of any matters to be presented at
the Annual  Meeting  other than those stated in the Notice of Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders. However, if other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting,
it is the  intention of the persons named in the  accompanying  Proxy to vote in
accordance  with  their  best  judgment  on  such  matters  in  the  absence  of
instructions  to the contrary.  Any  shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal
for  inclusion  in the  proxy  material  to be  distributed  by the  Company  in
connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2000 must do so
no later than  December 15, 1999. To be eligible for inclusion in the 2000 Proxy
material of the Company, proposals must conform to the requirements set forth in
Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

                                       17


         The Company may use its discretion in  voting  Proxies with  respect to
Shareholder proposals  not included  in the Proxy  Statement for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999, unless  the Company  receives notice of  such proposals
prior to February 24, 2000.

         Upon the receipt of a written request from any shareholder, the Company
         will mail,  at no charge to the  shareholder,  a copy of the  Company's
         1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and
         schedules  required  to be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
         Commission  pursuant  to Rule 13a-1  under the  Exchange  Act,  for the
         Company's  most recent  fiscal year.  Written  requests for such Report
         should be directed to:

                              Shareholder Relations Department
                              Invacare Corporation
                              One Invacare Way, P.O. Box 4028
                              Elyria, Ohio 44036-2125




You are urged to sign and return  your Proxy  promptly  in the  enclosed  return
envelope to make certain your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

                         By order of the Board of Directors



                         /S/ Thomas R. Miklich
                         ----------------------------
                         Thomas R. Miklich,
                          Secretary