Tune your radios this Thursday, Dec. 13, at 8:40 a.m. to the “Joe Thomas in the Morning Show” on WCHV’s 1260 AM and 107.5 FM stations! I will be on there to promote Crozet Eye Care’s InfantSEE® program and discuss 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. Crozet Eye Care offers comprehensive infant eye exams year round at no cost as part of this program, and we also dedicate one day during the Spring as InfantSEE Day, where our office is open just for appointments for infant eye exams. If the radio interview is available online, we will post it here, so please check back if you can’t listen live!

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), healthy eyes and good vision play a critical role in how infants and children learn to see. It is estimated that 80% of learning occurs through vision. The AOA recommends eye care check-ups starting at age 6 months followed by every two years – even if no eye or vision problems are apparent – and more frequently if experiencing signs that may indicate a vision problem (see signs below).

As a family practice, we are one of the few practices that serves children under age 5 in the Greater Charlottesville area.

The team at Crozet Eye Care is trained to work with children of all ages to ensure that check-ups and visits are as comfortable and pleasant as possible for our little patients (our fun prizes help!).

The following signs may be indications of eye and vision problems:

For Pre-Schoolers, in which it is estimated that 10% are affected by vision problems:

• Sitting close to the TV or holding a book too close 
• Squinting
• Tilting their head
• Frequently rubbing their eyes
• Short attention span for the child’s age
• Turning of an eye in or out
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination when playing ball or bike riding, Avoiding coloring activities, puzzles and other detailed activities

For School-Age Children: Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

• Short attention span
• Avoiding reading and other close activities
• Frequent headaches
• Covering one eye
• Tilting the head to one side
• Holding reading materials close to the face
• An eye turning in or out
• Seeing double
• Losing his or her place when reading
• Difficulty remembering what he or she read

Contact me with any questions, drfranklin@crozeteyecare.com