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Free, comprehensive eye exams for infants

Wisconsin optometrists will offer free, comprehensive eye and vision assessments to infants.

The public health program is called InfantSEE and was developed to provide free, professional eye care for infants nationwide, regardless of family income or number of eligible children. The program is available year-round by appointment with some local eye care professionals.

To encourage local parents to take advantage of InfantSEE, Gov. Jim Doyle officially declared the week of Jan. 25-31 as “InfantSEE Week” in south central Wisconsin.

One in 10 children are at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems, according to a news release from InfantSEE. Undiagnosed eye problems that are not detected could lead to permanent vision impairment or, in rare cases, life-threatening health risks, according to the release.

Only 14 percent of children from infancy to age 6 have had a comprehensive eye assessment from an eye care professional, according to the release.

“Many parents are surprised to learn that the first year of life is one of the most critical stages of a child’s visual development,” said Dr. Scott Jens, a Madison-area optometrist and chairman of InfantSEE. “It’s the ideal time to detect eye and vision problems before these conditions worsen or cause developmental delays.”

InfantSEE is a public health program developed by the American Optometric Association in partnership with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Local optometrists offering exams through InfantSEE include:

-- Dr. Gene Prudhon, 1005 17th St., Brodhead. Call (608) 897-2128.

-- Dr. Kenneth Morrison, 1221 E. Phoenix St., Delavan. Call (262) 728-2667.

-- Dr. Jacob Schoenenberger, 114 S. Madison St., Evansville. Call (608) 882-4990.

-- Dr. Tucker Webb, 1205 Suffolk Drive, Janesville. Call (608) 754-3379.

To learn more about InfantSEE, visit www.InfantSEE.org.