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When should a child be seen for their first eye and vision examination?  The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children be seen for their first eye exam at 6 to 12 months of age.  The AOA created a program called InfantSEE that provides assessment of your child’s eye health at no charge.  Vista Eye Care is Thornton, Colorado’s family eye care office, seeing patients of all ages, including InfantSEE exams.

Your infant's first eye exam starts with InfantSEE providers like Vista Eye Care.

Vista Eye Care offers exams for infants through the American Optometric Association's InfantSEE program

While children are often seen regularly for their systemic health exams, the AOA estimates that only 13 percent of children have seen an eye doctor by the age of 2.  As many as 100,000 infants born each year are at risk for serious eye and vision problems, and an early diagnosis may be required to provide the correct management for eye disease.  Dr. Abert and Dr. Pedroza will carefully assess your child’s ocular health, looking specifically for signs of cataracts, retinal disease, and refractive error (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism).  We will communicate with  your child’s pediatrician with a thorough report.

Among other ocular conditions common to infants is amblyopia.  According to the AOA, “former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter have pledged their support for the program for a very important, personal reason: they have two grandchildren with amblyopia.”  Amblyopia, if diagnosed early in life, can typically be treated with corrective lenses, and the patient’s vision can then develop normally.

An InfantSEE exam involves assessing the ocular motility, pupillary reactions, clarity of the ocular structures, retinal health, artery/vein health, and refractive error.  The exam can be performed with the infant sitting on their parent’s lap, and is usually an easy process with outstanding benefits for your child’s health.  We believe strongly in preventative eye care.  Please contact Vista Eye Care today to schedule your infant’s first eye exam!

Ready to schedule your annual eye check-up?