Nearly 7,000 ODs sign up for AOA's InfantSee

DALLAS – The InfantSee program is off and running with the goal of “changing the culture and mindset of America,” according to program chair Scott A. Jens, OD. Here at Optometry's Meeting, the American Optometric Association's 108th Annual Congress, Dr. Jens announced at a press conference that 6,650 AOA members have signed up to provide free comprehensive eye exams to infants in their first year of life, regardless of the infants' economic background.<\P>

The Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Institute has supported InfantSee with a $1 million grant to help build the program's infrastructure and develop a public relations campaign. Optos has agreed to waive imaging fees for any child younger than 1 year old.<\P>

According to Dr. Jens, former Pres. Jimmy Carter, honorary national chair and spokesman for InfantSee, 3 years ago challenged the AOA to create a broad-based program at no cost to the government nor to patients' families. "This program takes care of an unserved population," Dr. Jens said. "Babies aren't getting eye care from optometrists or ophthalmologists. This program is for the rich, the poor and everyone in between."<\P>

Participating AOA member-optometrists will provide free exams to all infants less than a year old. "There will be no cost to the family and no billing for insurance," said Dr. Jens. "This program underwent scrutiny from the Office of the Inspector General, and they said it's OK even if families have Medicaid insurance."<\P>

The AOA conducted a survey through babycenter.com and found that only 13% of mothers had taken their baby under the age of 2 to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. "Parents don't understand how you examine a baby, so this will give them a chance to see what we do," Dr. Jens said.<\P>

According to Peter H. Kehoe, OD, a member of the AOA Board of Trustees, “This is not a sprint, but a long-term marathon through our lives. This a paradigm shift to make a difference in children’s lives and to wipe out amblyopia.”<\P>

InfantSee will market the program through babyenter.com with an online public education process. The program also calls for support from optometrists as part of this broad-based public relations plan. “We have to talk to one doctor at a time,” said Dr. Jens.<\P>

He said that he recently spoke with the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. "All graduating classes from now on will know about this program. We want new graduates to know they are 'cradle-to-grave' caregivers.”<\P>

In its first 10 days, InfantSee.org received 35,000 doctor searches. "Parents are hungry for health care information for their children. InfantSee wants to be part of the family care commitment,” said Dr. Jens.<\P>

"We want to continue to stress that what pediatricians do is very important, too," continued Dr. Jens. "Pediatricians are thought of as the medical home for children. We want to spend time with pediatricians."<\P>

Dr. Kehoe added that the AOA has met with the American Academy of Pediatrics to discuss InfantSee. "We're hoping all pediatricians some day ask parents if they've gotten their children's eyes examined," he said.<\P>

Dr. Jens said that W. David Sullins Jr., OD, "in 1998 started Operation Bright Start with the vision of impressing families one at a time to get their babies' eyes examined. This program is a testament to his urging us to make some difference."<\P>

He added that participating doctors will send outcomes information back to the AOA for analysis. "Our dream is to have a White House Conference on infant eye care in a few years."<\P>

About one-third of the AOA membership is currently signed up with the InfantSee program; the AOA's goal is 50%, said Dr. Jens. While the program is not open to non-members, Dr. Kehoe said, "We believe some non-members will feel strongly enough about this program to join the AOA."<\P>