Commentary by Tammy Wittmann, O.D.
- Trip to the Pediatrician
- Trip to the Dentist
- Trip to the Eye Doctor
Really? My infant needs to see the eye doctor? Cooing, sitting up and crawling are all signs that your baby is growing. Your baby’s vision goes through important stages, too. Did you know eye problems can occur without noticeable symptoms?
The American Optometry Association and The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. have partnered to create InfantSEE, a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide. Through InfantSEE, optometrists provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants ages 6 to 12 months, offering early detection of potential eye and vision problems at no cost, regardless of income.
Eye doctors have instruments and resources not available to general-care doctors like pediatricians and family physicians.
“This extensive eye assessment gives parents the peace of mind that their infant’s vision is developing properly”, said Dr. Tammy Wittmann of Wittmann 20/20 Family Eye Center.
A study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus in 1999 found that at age 8, children who did not receive infant screenings for vision issues were 17 times more likely to have amblyopia, a condition often referred to as lazy eye and is a leading cause of vision loss in people younger than 45.
An eye and vision assessment is an important step in making sure your baby is learning to see properly.
Dr. Tammy Wittmann, O.D., practices at Wittmann 20/20 Family Eye Center at 2792 E. 146th St., Carmel. For more information, visit www.wittmann2020.com or call 843-2020.