InfantSEE®: An early look at vision health of infants in the United States, implications for healthy vision

InfantSEE®, a national public health program designed to provide a comprehensive eye examination to infants 6-12 months of age regardless of income, insurance availability or geographic location is currently participating in a 2 year national outreach effort to detail and assess the overall health condition of infant vision in this country. Data from the last three years indicate that the rate of causes for concern has increased from 1 in 10 in 2007 to 1 in 7 in 2010. Data from previous outreach (2009) indicated that 1 in 6 infants had a vision disturbance in specific geographic locations across the country. In addition, data collected from states not involved in the specificied outreach efforts is detailing higher rates of prevalence for vision disturbances that if left untreated could pose significant issues. Overall, the number of vision disturbances that are being reported through InfantSEE® services across the country is increasing.