The optometrists of Smoke Vision Care are just three of the more than 7,000 optometrists nationwide who have been actively participating in InfantSEE(tm), a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants.

Doctors at Smoke Vision Care and participating optometrists will provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life, offering early detection of potential eye and vision problems at no cost regardless of income.

“I’m very proud to be involved in InfantSEE(tm) to insure healthy vision for our community’s infants,” said Dr. Brenda Smoke. “We have served many infants already through the program but there are so many new parents who are unaware of this program. With May being the national celebration of Healthy Vision Month, sponsored by the National Eye Institute, and the week of May 10-14 recognized as InfantSEE(tm) week by the Michigan Optometric Association, we thought it a good time to help get the word out.”

InfantSEE ™ was launched in June 2006 by the American Optometric Association (AOA), in partnership with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc.

Experts from AOA and American Public Health Association (APHA) 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 by the time they are 18 years of age.

However, a survey by BabyCenter.com, on behalf of the AOA, reveals that nearly half of new and expectant mothers mistakenly believe that because a baby’s eyes are changing and their vision is developing in their first year of life, it is best to wait until the child is older to get them screened by an eye care professional.

This discrepancy suggests a lack of understanding about the importance of early intervention.

If left untreated, eye and vision problems can impact learning and may lead to permanent vision impairment.

“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,” states Dr. Smoke. “Although infants cannot respond verbally, the first year of life is an ideal time to conduct an extensive eye assessment.”