"Babies need an eye exam, too?" Cooper, age 5 months
Baby’s first Christmas, baby’s first step, baby’s first tooth… Parents love celebrating all those firsts with their new little one!
Did you know a baby should also have a first eye exam?
“Babies explore their world with their eyes,” explains Dr. Pete Kehoe, past president of the American Optometric Association and advocate of the public health program InfantSEE. “It’s important a baby’s eyes are checked to ensure healthy eyes and normal visual development. I’m thrilled to see Vision First and their Kids Eyes Count Campaign promote infant eye care.”
Cooper’s new parents couldn’t agree more. “Nothing is more important to me then protecting my child’s eyes,” said Cooper’s new mom, Cindy. “When you’re a mom, you see the world through the eyes of your child. Those eyes see and appreciate things that we adults take for granted. It’s great there are groups supporting the best in children’s eye care.”
Baby wellness check-ups by a pediatrician should not be confused with eye care by an eye doctor. Even though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vision screenings for all children, parents need to know that a vision screening is not be a substitute for an eye examination. Vision screenings are limited. Only an eye doctor can identify vision problems and prescribe treatment.
Little Mark's first eye exam in 2002
The American Optometric Association recommends a baby’s first eye exam at 6 months of age. An optometrist will test for large or unequal amounts of refractive error, eye movement ability, and eye health.
“Babies are a pleasure to examine,” said Dr. Kehoe. ”It’s great giving moms and dads the good news that their baby’s eyes are healthy and developing normally. The InfantSEE exam is the perfect opportunity to educate parents about a lifetime of healthy vision.”
For babies 6-12 months
To ensure all babies have their first eye exam before their first birthday, optometrists who are members of InfantSEE will provide one free eye appointment for all babies who are between 6 -12 months of age as a no-cost public service. Learn more about InfantSEE here…
Eye and vision problems are best detected and treated early. Thank you for your interest and support in bettering children’s eye care.
Cooper says, "Hey... this kid's eyes count!"
Follow three simple steps and be a part of the Kids Eyes Count Campaign:
- 1. KNOW vision screening is not a substitute for an eye examination.
- 3. KEEP eye care health and good vision habits a priority.
Join the “Kids Eyes Count” email list here! Receive updates and important news. Vision First respects your privacy. Your email address will not be shared or sold.
Sign-up here today!
Learn how babies learn to see! Check out this great page from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) website here…
Check out this great page from the AOA’s website on infant’s vision here…
This post is the first of my new series called, “Members Making a Difference.” Look for a new special member each month. Enjoy!
Copyright © 2010 Janet Hughes. All rights reserved.
Thank you, Rich and Cindy, and of course your adorable baby Cooper, for being my first feature in “Members Making a Difference.” God bless your beautiful family with a lots of love, joy, and laughter!
I also want to thank Dr. Pete Kehoe for joining our Kids Eyes Count email list, too! You are making a difference in the eyes of so many children. Thank you for being a great optometrist!
By: Janet Hughes on January 25, 2010
at 10:20 pm
Great post Janet!
I never knew a baby should get an eye exam at 6 months. I’m sure a lot of new parents appreciate knowing this information.
Keep up the excellent work!
Mark
By: Mark on January 26, 2010
at 8:33 am
janet; congratulations.
please consider making a difference in rachael Klein’s life. it is my 89th birthday and all i want for a gift is to experience the joys of having my Gaze Fixed just as Susan R Barry is now doing. i am a retired Orthoptist who, as a result of my not having a full eye exam by a COVD who would of detected my lack of binocular vision and perhaps would have made a great difference in my past life. by seeing to it that i , like Susan R Barry , would be priviledged to enjoy the experiene of perceiving my space world in depth.
Tell me, please,is it too late for me to consult with a COVT? i would like very much to do so with high hopes that he/she will be able to (by the grace of God) relieve me of the constant double vision which (by the grace of god) i have had to learn to live with)
What a wonderful Birthday Gift it would be for rachael to see an Eye Doctor who would grant me the Gift of Having my
GAZE Fixed and experiencing the gift of Binocular Vision prior to my departure to my eternal resting place in HeAVEN.
i HAVE BEEN PLEASURED WITH THE sELF SATISFACTION AND GRATIFICATION OF GRANTING THE /GIFT OF bINOCULAR VISION TO THE MANY “INOCENT BUNDLES OF JOY”WHO WERE rACHAEL’S STRABISMIC KIDS AND DO NOW AS A RETIRED CERTIFIED ORTHOPTIST PRACTICE “THE PREVENTION OF aMBLYOPIA WHICH IS THE MOST TREATABLE BLINDNESS IN THE WORLD WHEN DETECTED AND CORRECTED (AS IS BEING DONE WITH THE INFANT see PROGRAM.
I WANT TO CONTINUE “TO MAKE A dIFFERENCE” IN THE LIFE OF EVERY CHILD WHO IS CHALLENGED WITH STRABISMUS/AMBLYOPIA AS I HAVE BEEN DOING DURING MY MANY YEARS OF PRACTICING VISION TRAINING WITH THE FUSION TRAINING INSTRUMENT I DESIGNED FOR MY PATIENTS TO “PRACTICE THE OFFICE TRAINING I GAVE THEM AT HOME SO THAT THE LESSONS I TAUGHT THEM (HOW TO USE THEIR TWO EQUALLY SEEING EYES (FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL ORTHOPTIC PATCH THERAPY) AS ONE SO THAT THEY (JUST AS SUSAN r bARRY) COULD ENJOY “HAVING THEIR gAZE fIXED ” and perceiving Depth.
In the Eyes of a child the world is full of Beauty”
So please do have a COVT contact rachael at her e mail which is “Eradicatelazyeye@gmail.com.
i will graciously accept any and all opportunity to have my gaze fixed and experience the Joy of “Binocular Vision”
i patiently await your reply and again i congratulate you Janet for successfully fullfilliny your mission of “granting the gift of binocular vision to all “precious bundles of joy” who now and in the future will be challenged with the Lack of Binocular Vision which adds depth to life.
ever so gratefully
Rachael Pietrini Klien
founder of the Orthoptic/Strabismus Endowment Fund at duke university pediatric eye center.
founder of the Marco :Eye-land” Eradicate amblyopia Foundation
By: rachael Pietrini Klein on January 26, 2010
at 4:00 am
Janet!
Cooper is very cute! This post is packed with good information. I’ll be sure and send it along!
I hope all is well and you guys are staying warm!
-Nate
By: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD on January 26, 2010
at 5:21 am
I agree that all children, including babies, must be submitted to an eye examination.
By: Antonio Mendes Silva on January 26, 2010
at 9:55 am
You are to be commended for all the work and effort you have put forth to this most worthwhile endeavor. Because of you, the future of children have an equal chance in life to see things that perhaps otherwise would not. Keep up the good work!
By: J. Marie Zimmerman on January 26, 2010
at 10:03 am
You are tireless in your committment to children. The time you give to the school board and vision First is astounding.
This information is vital.
Thank you
Nora
Cooper is adorable! But then I am his grandmother.
By: Nora Waliczek on January 26, 2010
at 11:54 am
Dear Janet,
I am so fortunate to know you and the effort you are putting into such a worthwhile cause is an act of a wonderful and compassionate endeavor on behalf of the children of society today and the future. Keep up the good work and God Bless you.
By: Jack Roth on January 26, 2010
at 12:14 pm
I agree that all children must be submitted to an eye examination.
By: Antonio Mendes Silva on January 26, 2010
at 1:42 pm
Hi Janet,I want to thank you very much for all you do for the children,I too agree that child vision is a very important,and all children should have eye checkup. Cooper is a beautiful,wonderful child,and Nora,thank you..you should be proud
I am happy and blessed to know a friend that does so much for the children~thank you very much Janet!! 
I wish you and the children and to all a good weekend.
By: mike downs on January 27, 2010
at 8:09 pm
What a good thing to see, babies having eye exam, cannot stress enough how important. My daughter had trouble with her eyes and we did not know. School exams did not show anything,and her school work did . We took her to the dr. and she had a focus problem. We wish we would have know earlier. good work. I think that baby is adorable , but I also have a relationship he is my great nephew and he was born on my birthday.
By: jessica klenck on January 28, 2010
at 9:37 am
You could not have found a cuter baby for this post! This is important information that I will forward onto others.
Blessings,
Aero
By: Aero on January 29, 2010
at 7:21 pm
I am forwarding this to my son….hope he takes heed.
By: Phyllis on February 1, 2010
at 6:56 am
Thanks , have to tell my granddaughter ,her little Rebecca is already past the baby stage , walking and dancing , she is so cute , thank goodness for Skype , at least I can talk to her , they live in Aidelade , Australia . Hugs !!
By: Aletta on February 17, 2010
at 8:07 pm
Please pray for Cooper’s dad, Rich, Jr. He needs a live kidney donor. He has been dealing with kidney disease since 1997. After going on dialysis, he had to wait nearly 5 years for a transplant. Family and friends were tested, but none were suitable. In 2005 he had the transplant and did well for one year. He has married and now has a 9 month old son. He has been in rejection and his health continues to decline.
On 3/26/10, the cardiologist was emphatic about the need for a live donor. Currently the average waiting time is around 6 years. Dialysis keeps you alive but not healthy. More people die waiting for a transplant than those who actually have one. Our concern is, if he has to wait that long, he may not be healthy enough to have a transplant.
God bless you.
Rich and Nora Waliczek
By: Nora Waliczek on April 24, 2010
at 3:29 pm
[...] Cooper Joins Campaign [...]
By: Thank you, Nora! « Janet’s Journal, a Vision First blog on May 13, 2010
at 2:13 pm
So many people think babies dont need eye exams and then they’re sorry
By: Williams Eye Care on December 21, 2011
at 8:01 am
What a wonderful informative article
thanks
By: Eye doctor St. Louis on December 24, 2011
at 2:39 pm
Babies always seem “perfect”. The biggest problem is diaper rash… People are so stupid in not realizing how important care of eyes is even before thechild is reading age
Pam
By: Optometrist Ann Arbor on December 27, 2011
at 1:13 am
We checked our infant son’s eyes and caught a correctable problem before it was too late – Thank-you for encouraging people not to wait
Carol
By: Carol on December 28, 2011
at 5:11 am
Janet-
Thanks for this great report. There are so many treatments these days that can only work in correcting vision problems in baby’s soft still developing eyes. There are even contact lenses that can correct problems but only for babies
Thanks for making people aware
Pat
By: Pat on December 30, 2011
at 1:50 am
Thanks Janet
So many people don’t realize the importance of prevention medicine
Joan
By: Joan on January 3, 2012
at 12:34 am