Thanks to the Crozet Gazette for publishing my article about children's comprehensive eye exams and why parents should make them a priority.

March is Save Your Vision Month. Often parents ask me when their children should have their first eye exam, and they are usually surprised by the answer. Experts from the American Optometric Association (AOA) and American Public Health Association (APHA) agree that visual development is most dramatic between 6 and 12 months of age; early detection of vision impairment and disorders at this age can prevent and help reduce the threat of developmental delays in children and serious vision impairments later in life.

As an optometrist and a mother, I am so passionate about early childhood eye care and my role as the Virginia Coordinator for the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) InfantSEE® program. InfantSEE® is a nation-wide initiative developed to provide professional eye care for infants ages 6-12 months at no cost.  I’m excited to announce that as part of this program, our office will open our doors on Friday, April 20, from 9a.m. to 12p.m., to provide a one-time comprehensive eye exam for infants within this age range at no cost, regardless of income. We will be seeing patients by appointment only, so please call or click here to make your appointment! 

Experts from the AOA and American Public Health Association (APHA) agree that visual development is most dramatic between 6 and 12 months of age. Early detection of vision impairment and disorders at this age can prevent and help reduce the threat of developmental delays in children and serious vision impairments later in life. The importance of seeing an optometrist during this time is that significant risk factors to eye and vision disorders are typically not detectable by the base-level eye screenings conducted during pediatrician well-child visits.

Early childhood eye care is one of our specialty areas. In fact, Crozet Eye Care is one of the few practices in the Greater Charlottesville area to see children under age 5. You can read more about our services here.

Preparing for the appointment: 
1) Change the infant's diaper just before the assessment.
2) Bring a bottle or snacks.
3) Bring a security toy/object to help keep the infant's attention
4) Try to arrange for siblings to not be in the exam room as they may distract the infant.
5) Bring a hat or sunglasses for the infant. His/her pupils will be dilated to properly assess the health of the eyes. It is okay if the infant chooses not to wear the hat or sunglasses. They will just close their eyes if it is too bright. 
6) Arrive 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork.  

*Appointment availability may increase depending on the number of requests.

Read more about InfantSEE® at www.infantsee.org.

No cost eye examinations for all infants 6-12 months old!

We will be hosting an InfantSEE® Day on March 30th from 9-5. InfantSEE® is a public health program which provides comprehensive eye assessments to infants 6-12 months of age at no cost. Take advantage of this free program. Call now to schedule your child’s appointment 823-4441. Check out this recent feature on CBS 19 News.

Often I get this question from parents whose children have passed a screening at the pediatrician's office. I understand why parents feel this way. Most people think that "seeing" means being able to read the distance eye chart. However, that is only a small part of how children (and adults) use their eyes in today's world. Think of how much we all need to see up close to read, work on the computer, and use handheld devices/games. Although the pediatrician screening is important, there is no substitute for a comprehensive eye exam to access all aspects of the visual system and the health of the eyes.