We just returned from the Virginia Optometric Association’s Annual Conference in Richmond. I am so proud of Anne, Michelle, and Ellie for their leadership of the Virginia Paraoptometric Association. Way to go ladies!

For the past eight years I have been on the Board of Trustees for the VOA. I have officially finished my term. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve optometrists in Virginia and hope I made at least a small contribution to this great profession while doing so.

Although I will always be here to help when the VOA calls on me, I look forward to focusing my professional attention more on InfantSEE^TM and children’s eye exams. This is a passion of mine, and we need to get the word out that every child needs an early eye examination to help prevent delays in visual and physical development. In Philadelphia this week at the American Optometric Association’s annual conference, I will be working on the national InfantSEE^TM Committee to help continue to build this public health program. 

For those of you aren’t familiar with InfantSEE^TM, it is a nationwide public health program that provides a no cost comprehensive eye assessment for infants between 6-12 months of age. Doctors of optometry volunteer their time to assess the infants. Diagnosing certain visual conditions at this age is critical to development of not only the eyes, but also gross and fine motor skills.

If you want to know more about infant or child exams, please call the office. Also if you know a group that would like to hear more about the InfantSEE^TM program, please contact me, and I will be happy to present it to them.

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!

 A native of Crozet, Dr. Quesenberry earned his  undergraduate degree from Messiah College and  continued on to earn his Doctor of  Optometry from  Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. During his  training program Dr. Quesenberry worked at a  hospital- based facility with the White Earth Indian  Health Service in Minnesota, a private practice in  Lexington, Virginia and an inner-city based clinic in  Memphis.  When he isn’t at  work Dr. Quesenberry  enjoys spending  time with his wife, being outdoors,  hunting, reading and church. 

 “My mission is to provide each patient with the highest  quality eye care, using modern techniques, and serving the community by educating patients and others about issues concerning vision development, function, and preservation.” – Dr. Q

Dr. Quesenberry specializes in family eye care, contact  lenses, and the treatment and management of ocular  disease. He is an InfantSee provider, and is trained in  pediatric eye care.

Some of our patients may remember Dr. Quesenberry from his days as a technician at Crozet Eye Care four years ago. We are thrilled that he has returned and will be joining our team this fall!

 Dr. Quesenberry will be seeing patients Wednesdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (434) 823-4441.  

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.

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.

Read more information here in the Crozet Gazette article.

Look for more helpful eye care information periodically in the Crozet Gazette!

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.

Since 90% of what children learn comes from vision, I believe all children deserve to see their best to maximize achievement. I feel so strongly about this that I participate in the InfantSEE program. Through this national program, we provide no cost eye exams for infants 6-12 months old regardless of parents’ income. 

The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams at 6 months, 3 years, just before kindergarten, and then every 1-2 years depending on need.I encourage all parents to call today and schedule appointments for their children.For more information about children’s vision visit http://aoa.org/x9451.xml