AKA Attend a private puppet show.
Because of a little known program called InfantSEE (a public health initiative spear-headed by former President Carter), Holden’s eyes were checked for major vision problems by a nice person playing with hand puppets and shining lights in his face.
If you ask him, I think he liked it only ok, but I’m telling you that there are at least three good reasons to find a Dr. in your area and go do it:
- It’s totally free
- It’s an outing for you and baby complete with a light show, puppets, and a professional entertaining her exclusively
- And, most important, it will give you peace of mind that her eyes are developing as they should or it will set you on the path to correcting any major vision problems early!
The free program applies to babies from six months to a year in age.
So, now I guess I need to confess that I did this for Holden but didn’t get around to it for Milo… Scarlett, there’s still time for you!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I took my 7-month old daughter to the eye doctor for and InfantSee vision assessment. They did not use any fingerpuppets or other toys. They did use a penlight and held up paddles with black and white designs for her to look at. The doctor said her eyes looked great and her vision seemed to be good. However, I do not know if they left anything out on the exam or not.
I guess my question regarding the InfantSee vision assessment is: Are they supposed to use puppets and/or other toys?
I don’t know if they need to use puppets, the doctor did in my case. I sort of remember the paddle thingies too. Sorry it wasn’t as fun as it could have been, but if everything looks good, I wouldn’t worry about it. Were you worried or just bored?
You can find out more details on website: http://infantsee.org/
The program is a bunch of bullsh*t. Developed by young, poor entrepreneurial optometrists as a way to generate future patient visits (when your child really does need to go to an optometrist), it’s a waste of time for anyone to have their infant subjected to undue examination and uncomfortable pupil dilation. Babies’ vision are always changing, and characteristically hyperic, so why try to find out if screaming little Abbie is myopic? Amblyopia and other conditions are easily detectable in routine pediatric visits.
The “free” visit is just a way for you to remember them when it’s time to get your 4 year old’s vision tested. It’s a waste of your time.
Thomas, I recently heard one of the doctors involved in this program speak and he told some touching stories about how this program has impacted famiies. In at least one instance, they found a cancer that might have gone unnoticed for much longer. I’m not sure why one would consider a free eye exam bullsh*t. Anyway I think a full eye exam is generally recommended prior to kindergarten, anyway. Given that this type of exam may not be covered by general medical insurance, what’s the harm in trying it out?
I was looking at the Roockiemoms.com,, mom sight and I have to tell you there is noting like having an issue and your 20 month old in glasses !!! AND I READ INFANT EXAMS ARE “BULLSH**t”..
OH MY! I thought my son was not focusing and my ped. office said , “Oh , he is fine!, nothing to worry about!” NOW mind you I had asked at every appointment you know every 3 to 4 months and they kept telling “nah, he is fine!, it’s OK!!” Well my husband works in a S.C.F. SO we have great insurance NO REFFERL required! So I took him on my own and sure enough there was a problem! He is next to blind and we had NO CLUE! Well in one eye and the other was just beginning to become affected!.. YET I had no idea about this infant SEE thing,, but wow it was the best co-pay I have ever spent! I have to say it maybe “BULLSH**T ” to someone with “the perfect child” BUT MINE WOULD HAD REALLY BENNIFITED FROM IT SOONER!
IF YOU THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM ,,TAKE CARE OF IT! My husband and I have 20/20 vision and so do our 4 other children I never would had thought that there was a MAJOR problem!! NEVER!! I just hope they advertise more and more parents take there BABIES!!…
I have to say it is so hard to think he has gone so long and could not see and we did not know, I guess he is just one amazing little boy who adjust well to anything,, He did not stumble, his motor skills were GREAT and he walk and talked and too was very social! He just seemed to stand a little close to the TV a lot, yet all kids do and to he would get right up on top of the 21 inch computer screen too, again I thought was a little odd ,, then he seemed to have one eye turn a little , and really you could only see it threw photographs,, so really I was going out on a limb to take him to the eye Dr. and the only thing I regret,, is not doing it sooner!