A Guide to the InfantSEE® Program

Ensuring the health of your newborn child is crucial. You need to ensure your child is healthy and growing well. Most bodily systems and organs are not fully developed at birth. The first few months and years after birth are critical to developing these organs and structures. It is why the first year after birth is full of regular medical checkups.

One of the more critical organs is the eye. At birth, a child can barely see anything other than lights. As they age, their visual ability grows by leaps and bounds. In the next twelve months, they will learn to see more detail and recognize things like faces. Because these stages of infant visual development are so critical, the American Optometric Association (AOA) started the InfantSEE® program.

What Is InfantSEE Program?

The program is an initiative by the AOA in conjunction with a few other organizations. It involves the AOA working directly with eye doctors to provide eye care for infants nationwide. It offers a one-time service to detect eye conditions early. It is a public health program that aims to ensure optometric care becomes an essential aspect of infant care.

The program is accessible to anyone in the country with a child. They offer the services for the first year of life at no cost, regardless of ability to pay or income. They aim to ensure as many children as possible have good vision as they grow up.

Directives

The directives set in place a system that ensures the assessment of infant vision and eye health. They ensure the services are readily available to new parents. The directives are:
 

• Through eye exams, identify and treat any issues that expose a child to adverse effects on their health

• Manage and decrease the impact of eye conditions that may lead to visual impairment or vision loss. Also, mitigate the chances of disorders affecting a child’s cognitive and spatial development. Conditions like amblyopia affect about one in 30 infants

• Educate and enlighten parents about infant eye care and its importance for their future. They educate parents in visual acuity, eye movement, refractive status, eye health, and eye binocular potential or alignment

When Should the First Exam Happen?

Experts recommend that the first eye exam happen at about six months of age. At this age, a child’s visual system is developed enough to identify some issues. Your child must visit a pediatric eye doctor with the skills to identify multiple problems. The vision screening by the pediatric doctor at the hospital is insufficient.

Why Is InfantSEE Important? 

A child’s visual system undergoes the most dramatic growth in the first year. Specifically, it happens between six and twelve months. Detecting eye conditions at this early stage reduces the threat of severe eye conditions later.

What Does the Eye Doctor Check at This Stage?

The eye doctor will focus on visual development and basic visual skills. Some of these include eye movement, tracking, and pupil response. They will also look at the health of the eye’s internal structures.

For more on a guide to the InfantSEE program, visit Patterson Optometric Eyecare at our office in Burney, California. Call (530) 335-2233 to book an appointment today.