The National Eye Institute has reported that "in children, visual impairment is associated with developmental delays and the need for special educational, vocational, and social services, often beyond childhood into adulthood." The American Foundation for Vision Awareness (AFVA) has initiated Operation Bright Start (OBS) through the cooperation of approximately 180 volunteer doctors of optometry in Tennessee. The program has been organized to identify and treat vision problems and to assist parents in understanding the importance of eye and vision care during the first year of life. This paper is based upon analysis of data obtained from both optometrists and parents relating to various risk factors associated with eye and vision problems in infants. One specific goal of the program is to reduce, and possibly eliminate, loss of vision from amblyopia through early detection of associated risk factors. Generally the goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of undiagnosed vision problems in infants and to develop an appropriate model of vision care that is suitable for implementation across the nation.
Learning Objectives: The presentation will enable participants to: Discuss the importance of infant eye and vision health as it relates to normal infant development; Describe expected infant eye and vision development; Articulate the need for coherent public policy regarding infant eye and vision health care; Articulate the barriers to the provision of appropriate infant eye and vision health care
Keywords: Vision Care, Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.