2007 InfantSEE(R) Data Magnifies the Need for Early Eye and Vision Screenings for Infants, According to American Optometric A...(uce the threat of serious vision impairm...),Health

InfantSEE(R) assessments are complementary to the routine well-care exams a baby receives from a pediatrician or family physician. Infants have long received eye screenings for strabismus and leukocoria from their trusted pediatricians as part of a full well-care check-up to detect a host of large- scope health problems. Many cases of successful intervention have resulted from this process. However, optometrists have the time to perform a comprehensive eye and vision assessment, the instrumentation to identify areas of risk that are critical to a child's vision development and the skills to identify conditions that might not be detected in a routine pediatric wellness exam and that may need to be monitored, immediately treated or referred to a pediatric eye specialist. InfantSEE(R) aims to detect more subtle problems earlier, so infants can be managed by optometrists, ophthalmologists or other medical specialists as necessary.

Although infants cannot respond verbally, the first year of life is an ideal time to conduct an extensive eye assessment. Not only is this a critical time for eye and vision development, but generally children at this age do not yet fear doctor visits and find the assessment painless and often enjoyable. Typically, infants sit on their parent's lap during the assessment, in which the optometrist uses lights and other hand-held objects to check that their eyes are working together and that there are no significant refractive or health issues that will impede proper vision development.

To learn more about InfantSEE(R), visit http://www.InfantSEE.org.

About the American Optometric Association

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors, on the frontline of eye health and vision care, who
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