Early vision exam for babies is critical, say experts

• It%27s important to have infants%27 vision checked%2C says developmental optometrist Dr. Paul Bernstein
• Babies can get a free vision screening with an optometrist through the national InfantSEE program
• Most infants are currently not screened for vision problems%2C according to InfantSEE
• The American Optometric Association recommends taking a baby to the eye doctor at six months

If you're like most parents, you rely on the pediatrician's annual vision exam to make sure your child doesn't need to go to the eye doctor.

But when it comes to infants' vision problems, early assessment and intervention is critical, says Dr. Paul Bernstein, a developmental optometrist with Family Vision Care Associates and the Bernstein Center for Visual Performance in White Plains.

The InfantSEE program — in which Bernstein is a participating provider — is a national public health program that provides a free infant eye assessment for babies between six and 12 months of age.

According to InfantSEE, one in 10 children is at risk for undiagnosed eye and vision problems, but only 13 percent of mothers with children under two reported taking their babies to an eye and vision care professional for a checkup.

The incidence or risk of eye disease in a child is extremely low, says Bernstein. "But the functional visual issues that relate to clarity of sight, focusing, aiming and tracking are not the primary concerns of a medical eye doctor."

That's why a vision exam by an optometrist is so important, he says. Babies under the age of one can be assessed while the visual system is still developing, says Bernstein, and problems like amblyopia — also known as a lazy eye — can be detected and treated promptly.

The American Optometric Association recommends taking a baby to the eye doctor at around six months of age. The optometrist will be able to check for excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism; examine eye-movement ability; and check for eye health problems.