Maine Optometrists Participate in InfantSEE® Week to Improve Infant Eye and Vision Care

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the overwhelming number of children with eye and vision problems across the United States, Maine optometrists are devoting appointments throughout the year to no-cost, comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants between six and 12 months of age through InfantSEE®.  To call attention to and emphasize the importance of this effort, U.S. Representative Mike Michaud (D-Maine) has declared the week of February 6 through February 11, 2012 InfantSEE® Week in Maine.

InfantSEE®, a year-round public health program developed by Optometry Cares® - The AOA Foundation and Vistakon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., was designed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide at no-cost, regardless of family income or number of eligible children.

"We all want the best for our state's children," said Rep. Michaud. "This collaborative effort offers Maine parents an invaluable service, and I encourage all who are interested to take advantage of this great opportunity. Like in many areas of health care, catching or preventing vision problems early can be key to ensuring health and wellness later in life."

One in 10 infants is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems, which, if undetected, could lead to permanent vision impairment, and in rare cases, life-threatening health risks.  However, only 14 percent of children from infancy to age six have had a comprehensive eye assessment from an eye care professional, according to the American Optometric Association's Pediatric Eye and Vision study.

"Many parents are surprised to learn how critical the first year of life is to a child's visual development," said Dr. Colin Robinson, a Maine optometrist and InfantSEE® provider. "It's the ideal time to detect eye and vision problems before these conditions worsen or cause developmental delays."

In Maine, great strides are being made to ensure potential eye and vision problems are detected early. Infant eye assessments have been available in the state since the program began.

The InfantSEE® program launched in 2005 with support from former President Jimmy Carter, honorary national spokesperson. To date, more than 7,700 optometrists nationwide volunteer their time to provide assessments to babies in their communities.  The majority of vision problems detected include severe hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), congenital glaucoma and congenital cataract.  A less common vision problem that can also be detected during an infant's comprehensive eye assessment includes retinoblastoma (eye cancer).

In an effort to ensure healthy vision and eye health in Maine infants, parents can bring their infant for a no-cost assessment at participating optometrists' offices by appointment. 

BANGOR
Dr. Jeffrey J. Dutch
94 High Street
Belfast, ME 04915
(207) 338-1480

Dr. Ian Jones
419 Moosehead Trail
Newport, ME 04953
(207) 355-3333

Dr. Sean Kull
2 Sylvan Road
Orono, ME 04473
(207) 827-4802

Dr. Tonya Newman-Farrell
75 Main Street
Houlton, ME 04730
(207) 532-2486

Dr. Charles Plourde
67 Main Street           
Van Buren, ME 04785
(207) 868-3341

Dr. Jessica Vancil
165 U.S. Route 1
Bucksport, ME 04416
(207) 469-3022

PORTLAND
Dr. John Dubois
95 Maple Street
Cornish, ME 04020
(207) 625-3700

Dr. David Guiseley
#6 Turnpike Acres Road
Gray, ME 04039
(207) 657-4488

Dr. Jennifer Haverkamp
151 Main Street, Suite 1
Westbrook, ME 04092
(207) 854-1801

Dr. Michelle Higgins
26 School Street
Yarmouth, ME 04096
(207) 847-3800

Dr. Timothy Kearins
152 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 773-2020

Dr. Eric Todd Roush
151 Main Street
Westbrook, ME 04092
(207) 854-1801

AUGUSTA
Dr. Kathryn Dingley Gurney
130 Main Street
Farmington, ME 04938
(207) 778-2100

Dr. Steven Lary
38 Curtis Avenue
Camden, ME 04843
(207) 236-3429

Dr. Reginald W. Mailhot
220 Sabattus Street
Lewiston, ME  04240
(207) 782-9501

InfantSEE® assessments are complementary to the routine well-care exams a baby receives from a pediatrician or family physician.  Optometrists have the training to identify areas of risk that are critical to vision development and the skills to identify conditions that might not be detected in a routine pediatric wellness exam.  In some cases, conditions may need to be monitored, immediately treated or referred to a pediatric eye specialist. 

To learn more about InfantSEE® visit www.InfantSEE.org or call toll free 888-396-EYES (3937).

About InfantSEE®

InfantSEE® is a public health program managed by Optometry Cares® – The AOA Foundation. Designed to ensure that eye and vision care become an integral part of infant wellness and improve a child's quality of life, doctors of optometry provide a one-time, no-cost eye and vision assessment to infants between the ages of six and 12 months regardless of family income or access to insurance coverage. For more information, visit www.InfantSEE.org.

About the American Optometric Association

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors, on the frontline of eye health and vision care, who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in an individual's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases. Doctors of optometry have the skills and training to provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States. The American Optometric Association represents more than 36,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians in nearly 6,500 communities across the country.  For more information, visit www.aoa.org.

SOURCE InfantSEE