In 2006, I took my 12 month old son for vision screening. My husband, despite a childhood of good pediatric health care, is one of the adults who wasn't diagnosed for lazy eye until after the age of treatment. Though lazy eye is easily treated in young children, it poses the threat of complete vision loss before age 45 in those who go untreated.
Jimmy Carter challenged the American Optometric Society to provide greater emphasis on early vision screening after two of his grandchildren (despite good pediatric care and good fiscal resources) had undiagnosed childhood conditions.
In response, the AOP began InfantSEE, which offers free vision screening for infants between 6 and 12 months of age. Volunteer optometrists screen for conditions like lazy eye, strabismus, glaucoma, significant refractive errors (far-sightedness, near-sightedness, and astigmatism), and retinal blastoma.
This free visit can be a fun time for infant and parent (see Heather's write-up at Rookie Moms) involving puppets, bells, rattles, and lights.
At the InfantSEE web site you can find a local provider for a free vision screening appointment. 13 out of 14 infants screened have no serious problems and don't need further eye exams until ages 3 and 5.
Through InfantSEE optometrists are trying to improve the state of vision care in the United States so that every infant can enjoy normal vision.
