InfantSEE
Why should I take my baby to an InfantSEE provider?
An InfantSEE assessment between six and 12 months of age is recommended to determine if an infant is at risk for eye or vision disorders. Since many eye problems arise from conditions that can be identified by an eye doctor in the infant's first year of life, a parent can give an infant a great gift by seeking an InfantSEE assessment in addition to the wellness evaluation of the eyes that is done by a pediatrician or family practice doctor. One in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems, yet only 13 percent of mothers with children younger than 2 years of age said they had taken their babies to see an eye and vision care professional for a regular check-up or well-care visit. Moreover, many children at risk for eye and vision problems are not being identified at an early age, when many of those problems might be prevented or more easily corrected. Some 4.02 million children were born in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In approximately 4 percent, strabismus will develop, and amblyopia will develop in 3 percentthis equates to as many as 100,000 infants born each year who are at risk for serious eye and vision problems.
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Early intervention is critical to successful and cost-effective treatment. Despite the nation's present system of preschool vision screening, there exists a lack of understanding by the public of the importance of periodic professional eye and vision assessments. Unfortunately, during the course of their young lives, most children probably never see an eye care practitioner who can provide the kind of professional eye assessment necessary to identify critical eye and vision problems at an early stage, explain those conditions to parents, and provide the care necessary to correct those problems.
Optometry has stepped forward to accept its public health role and make a significant contribution to our society in the area of infants' eye and vision health. To that end, the American Optometric Association, with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. as a working partner, is launching InfantSEE, a first-of-its-kind national program to provide children professional eye and vision care earlier in life. The program will address the early childhood segment of the pre-school population, providing no-cost infant eye and vision assessments before the age of one year.
With Former President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter as honorary spokespersons for the program, and The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. promising multi-year support, InfantSEE has the potential to change the nation's concept of early childhood wellness care to include a professional eye and vision assessment as a necessary step in assuring an infant's overall health and wellness.
Please call our office to schedule a complimentary InfantSEE evaluation for your child with either Dr. Owens or Dr. Saylor. Then, go to the Patient Forms link on our website, print the InfantSEE Patient History Form, fill it out and bring it with you to the appointment. If you do not have access to a printer, just let us know and we will be happy to mail you the History Form prior to the appointment.