Children's Vision

The Colorado Optometric Association is proud to support two important programs designed to protect and enhance children's vision. Good vision is a critical part of a child's development, and the detection and treatment of eye problems at an early age can have a lasting impact on a child's life. The Colorado Optometric Association is committed to helping its members provide quality eye and vision care to children from birth through every developmental stage.

Kids Welcome Here^®

Both the Colorado Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association have recognized pediatric patients as an underserved population and have made pediatric vision care a top priority. As primary eye care providers, it is important to embrace the concept of taking care of all of our patients' needs, from birth to adulthood.

To that end, the COA is proud to provide you with Kids Welcome Here® brochures for use in your office. We suggest you keep a supply of the brochures in your examining rooms to hand out to your patients with children. Additional materials can be ordered from the COA office at no charge.

The Children's Vision 1-3-5® materials have been designed for you to use to educate your current patients who have children, informing them of the need to have a comprehensive eye exam before age 1, at age 3 and at age 5 before entering school in accordance with the AOA's frequency guidelines. They provide visuals for you and your staff to discuss pediatric vision care with your patients. Our ultimate hope is that all phases of Kids Welcome Here® will result in a more informed public regarding children's vision and the difference between screening with a Snellen chart and a comprehensive eye exam.

Your association truly believes that your strong support of the Kids Welcome Here® campaign will increase the number of Colorado children examined, and ultimately provide those children with the vision they need to succeed in school and life in general.

Click here to email the COA to request additional brochures. Be sure to include the number of additional copies you will need.

InfantSEE^®

InfantSEE^® is a public health program for infants sponsored by the American Optometric Association in partnership with the Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. InfantSEE^® was created to increase awareness of the importance of eye care in the first year of life, and to encourage parents to include eye and vision care as part of a child's well baby care. COA members who volunteer to participate in the program will be providing, free of charge, a one-time eye vision and eye health assessment for infants up to twelve months of age.

In 2005, the AOA launched the national InfantSEE^® website, which includes information for parents as well as AOA members who are interested in learning more about the details of the program:

www.infantsee.org

Click on the link above to go to the website, then click on "Doctor Center" (Please note that you will need to enter your AOA member ID number and birthdate to access the Doctor Center). The Doctor Center includes a wide array of resources and information about the program, including:

• Questions and answers about InfantSEE^®
• How to sign up to be an InfantSEE^® provider
• Continuing education opportunities and resources
• Helpful information and forms for downloading, including:
  • The InfantSEE^® Clinical Assessment Form
  • The InfantSEE^® Patient History Form
  • The InfantSEE^® Letter of Agreement Copy A and B
  • The InfantSEE^® Expecteds
  • The InfantSEE^® Staff FAQ's
  • Sample letter to parents
  • Sample letter to pediatricians and health care providers
  • Information on reordering forms and returning information to the AOA
  • A helpful resource list of equipment and publications for examining infants

Important note for InfantSEE^® providers

In your InfantSEE^® doctor kit, you should have received a set of two-part clinical assessment forms. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you return the bottom copy of that form to the AOA. Please mail them to:

InfantSEE^® Assessment Service
American Optometric Association
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd Floor 1
St. Louis, MO 63141

The two-part assessment forms are available at no charge by calling the AOA Order Department at 1.800.262.2210.