InfantSEE Week Emphasizes Importance of Infant Vision

Good visual health plays an important part in an infant’s development and overall well-being. For that reason, a proclamation, signed in the Senate on September 15, 2014, designated the week of September 14-20 as “InfantSEE Week” in Pennsylvania. 

Launched in 2005, InfantSEE is a public health program managed by Optometry Cares – The American Optometric Association’s Foundation. InfantSEE optometrists provide no-cost eye exams to children between the ages of six months to a year. The Eye Institute (TEI) is a proud participating provider of this national program.

According to Dr. Ruth Shoge, staff optometrist in Pediatric and Binocular Vision Services at TEI, proper visual development is important during a child’s early years. It’s during this time that fundamental skills such as eye-hand coordination, eye tracking, and visual information processing are developed.

“All of these early skill developments serve as building blocks to prepare children to eventually learn to read,” said Dr. Shoge. “A delay in visual skill development may have a negative impact on a child’s academic success in the future.”

According to the AOA, even if there are no apparent vision issues, a comprehensive eye exam can help identify, prevent and treat vision disorders before they affect a child’s ability to see and learn. With this knowledge, it’s essential for parents to take precautions toward protecting their children’s visual health.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of TEI’s pediatric optometrists call 215.276.6111.