More than 200 optometric physicians across Washington state will participate in InfantSEE™, a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide.  Participating optometric physicians will provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life, at no cost regardless of income. The goal of these assessments is early detection of vision problems. 

Public health experts agree that visual development is most dramatic between 6 and 12 months of age and that early detection can prevent and help reduce the threat of serious vision impairments. In fact, one in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems. If left untreated, vision problems can make learning difficult and may lead to permanent vision impairment. 

InfantSEE was officially launched on June 8, 2005 by the American Optometric Association (AOA) in partnership with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and is supported by former President Jimmy Carter, who serves as honorary national chair and spokesman.

“As parents, we regularly take our children to the dentist to help prevent cavities. Likewise, we should take our babies to the optometrist to help prevent potential eye and vision problems,” said President Carter. “Given my family’s experience managing vision problems that were not caught early, I strongly encourage all parents with babies to visit an optometrist for an InfantSEE assessment during the first year of their child’s life and I applaud AOA for providing parents this opportunity.”

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 babies 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 optometric physician uses lights and other hand held objects to check that their eyes are working together and that there are no significant refractive issues that will impede proper vision development.  The optometric physician may also use drops or a spray to dilate the baby’s pupils to ensure the health of each eye.

“Optometric physicians have the means to provide the most effective primary eye care services to children, as a complement to routine well-care exams given by pediatricians and family practice physicians,” said Lori Youngman, O.D., president of the Optometric Physicians of Washington.  “The InfantSEE doctors in Washington look forward to working with parents and health care providers to offer free comprehensive eye care to infants throughout our state.”

As part of the national launch of InfantSEE, President Carter will help educate parents about InfantSEE and urge them to take advantage of the program through public service announcements and his personal experiences regarding his grandchildren’s eye problems. Carter’s granddaughter was diagnosed and treated as a toddler for amblyopia, while his grandson’s amblyopia was not identified until grade school and may never be fully corrected.

To learn more about InfantSEE, or to find a participating optometric physician in your area, visit www.eyes.org. 

The Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW) is the professional association of Washington state optometric physicians. The OPW is comprised of 13 optometric societies throughout thestate numbering approximately 560 optometric physicians.

The mission of the OPW is to advance, improve and enhance the vision care and eye health ofthe public and to promote the continued development of the profession of optometry.

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Attachments
•	InfantSEE Fact Sheet
•	Child Development Fact Sheet
•	Map of InfantSEE doctors in Washington

Contact Information
•	Lisa Cargill OPW Communications Representative (509) 444-2350 lisac@desautelhege.com