Former President Carter and American Optometric Association Celebrate InfantSEE's First Birthday by Announcing Results

Assessments show that 1 in 20 babies have abnormal prescription status.

LAS VEGAS (06/22/2006) — Assessment results from the first year of InfantSEE™, a no-cost public health program developed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide, show that 1 in 20 babies were found to be at risk for an abnormal prescription status, reaffirming the need for this valuable program. Further, optometrists found overall need for concern in one out of 14 infants. During InfantSEE™’s first year, nearly 50,000 infants have been served by the program, and the AOA has analyzed 10 percent of the results (5,000 cases). Results were presented today by the American Optometric Association (AOA), in partnership with The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. at AOA’s annual meeting in Las Vegas.

Under this program, supported by former President Jimmy Carter, who serves as honorary national chair and spokesman, participating optometrists provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment to infants in their first year of life, offering early detection of potential eye and vision problems at no cost regardless of income.

"The success of the InfantSEE program is evident in the vast number of assessments conducted nationwide," said President Jimmy Carter. "I not only commend the AOA for their visible efforts to raise awareness of the program, but given the strong results, I now challenge all parents to seek out this wonderful opportunity for their infants."

Public health experts agree that visual development is most dramatic between 6 and 12 months of age and that early detection can prevent and help reduce the threat of serious vision impairments. In fact, one in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems.

“Optometrists, through their clinical education, training and experience, have the means to provide the most effective primary eye and vision services to children, as a complement to routine well-care exams given by pediatricians,” said Scott Jens, O.D., F.A.A.O. and InfantSEE™ chairman. “The AOA and InfantSEE™ volunteer optometrists are proud to continue offering parents and their infants with this service.”

Although infants cannot respond verbally, the first year of life is an ideal time to conduct an extensive eye assessment.  Not only is this a critical time for eye and vision development, but generally children at this age do not yet fear doctor visits and find the assessment painless and often enjoyable. Typically, infants sit on their parent’s lap during the assessment, in which the optometrist uses lights and other hand held objects to check that their eyes are working together and that there are no significant refractive issues that will impede proper vision development. The optometrist may also use drops or a spray to dilate the baby’s pupils to ensure the health of the eye.

To learn more about InfantSEE™, call toll-free (888) 396-EYES (3937) or visit www.infantsee.org.

About the American Optometric Association

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors, on the frontline of eye health and vision care, who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in an individual's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases. Doctors of optometry have the skills and training to provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States. The American Optometric Association represents more than 34,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians in nearly 6,500 communities across the country. For more information, visit www.aoa.org.

About Vision Care Institute

The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. is an innovative educational resource created to prepare optometry students for a successful transition into the real world of delivering quality eye care, as well as to assist practicing Eye Care Professionals in the growth and development of their practice.  The state-of-the-art facility gives participants a rare opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the latest in vision diagnostic and treatment technologies through hands-on contact lens instruction. Besides clinical training, participants also concentrate on communication skills.  The curriculum, taught by leading eye care practitioners from around the country, gives participants the skills and confidence necessary to excel in today's professional practice.  The Vision Care Institute has hosted students from all 19 of the schools and colleges of optometry throughout North America at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

About BabyCenter.com

Founded in 1997, BabyCenter operates www.babycenter.com, the most visited online resource for new and expectant parents, www.parentcenter.com, the leading online resource for parents of children ages 2 to 8, and www.babycentre.co.uk , the leading U.K. resource for new and expectant parents. Offering extensive, medical advisory board-approved content, BabyCenter's Web sites attract over 3.5 million visitors each month, as measured by comScore Media Metrix, and have been honored with numerous awards, including the 2005 People's Voice Webby Award for Best Family/Parenting Web site. In addition, the BabyCenter sites offer an array of interactive tools, a supportive online community, a premium subscription service, and an online store featuring thousands of products for parents and children.