InfantSEE® celebrates 20 years of early detection

Twenty years, 174,000 babies, 15,000 eye and vision issues identified, and more than 4,000 member doctors—the InfantSEE® program has transformed lives since its inception in 2005. This year, The AOA Foundation is celebrating the work this program has accomplished and looking forward to its next evolution.  

Designed to detect vision concerns early, it has opened the door for thousands of families to have their children receive comprehensive eye assessments as young as six months, often catching easily correctable issues before they can impact developmental milestones. Although many children receive basic vision screenings, these rudimentary tests frequently miss vision disorders that an optometrist can easily correct.  

States embrace InfantSEE®  

Since 2005, the program has expanded rapidly. Supported by Johnson & Johnson Vision and managed by The AOA Foundation, the program now operates nationwide. Several states, including South Carolina, Iowa and Washington, celebrated the program this year with state proclamations declaring September 21-27 as InfantSEE Week. 

Inna Litvin, O.D., an InfantSEE advocate in Hawaii, says local schools, preschools and providers instantly embraced the program. “InfantSEE helps the future generation of Hawaii see a bright and healthy vision for a lifetime,” Dr. Litvin says. “Now, we need to get more optometrists on board for the program and have more InfantSEE assessments both at our office and statewide.”  

InfantSEE® leadership receives President’s Awards 

At the 2025 Optometry’s Meeting®, InfantSEE leadership was honored with three President’s Awards.  

Glen “Bubba” Steele, O.D., was one of the program's founders. He says he appreciates the acknowledgment but prefers to focus on the work the organization has accomplished. “A real awareness of need has been met through InfantSEE,” he says. “This is the true power of InfantSEE that has been at the forefront and continues after 20 years.” 

Jennifer Smith Zolman, O.D., current chair of the AOA’s InfantSEE & Children’s Vision Committee and Reena Patel, O.D., vice chair of the committee, also were honored.  

Dr. Zolman says InfantSEE’s impact extends beyond simply identifying vision issues. It also establishes a habit of eye care early in a child’s life that can continue throughout their life. “One of our most vital accomplishments is the education of parents and community partners: because children rarely complain—often assuming their vision is normal—it's up to us to intervene early,” she says. “Every participating provider is actively closing the gap in children's vision health and securing a brighter future for the next generation."  

Dr. Patel is proud of InfantSEE’s accomplishments but knows there is more work ahead. The next step, she says, is expanding access for comprehensive eye exams to children of all ages and encouraging action based on their results. “Unfortunately, there’s a big gap between children who do not pass a vision screening and those who actually follow up with a comprehensive eye examination,” she says. “The Pediatric Eye Health and Vision Access Committee will be concentrating its efforts on this issue, along with many others in the realm of children’s vision, including continued promotion of the InfantSEE program.” 

To that end, the InfantSEE & Children’s Vision Committee will be combined with the Pediatric Eye Health and Vision Access Committee in 2026. This transition will allow the InfantSEE & Children’s Vision Committee to expand its focus on comprehensive eye care for children of all ages. The InfantSEE program will continue recruiting new providers to sustain its work.  

A viral moment of clarity 

InfantSEE’s impact is clear, especially for the children who have benefited, such as Piper Sinclair. In 2015, when she was just 10 months old, her parents were concerned. Their otherwise healthy baby wasn’t crawling, walking or picking things up, leading them to consult their pediatrician. The pediatrician suspected that Piper’s vision was holding her back and recommended she see an optometrist.  

After meeting with Josiah Young, O.D., of Opticare Vision, through a no-cost InfantSEE assessment, Piper’s parents discovered their daughter was farsighted. One pair of pink glasses later, Piper became an internet sensation when her parents caught her reaction to seeing the world clearly for the first time on video. The video, which appeared on several news broadcasts, including CNN and HLN, went viral, showing millions the power of early detection and action.  

Today, 11-year-old Piper is thriving and continues to encourage other parents to get their children’s eyes checked. 

Participate and support InfantSEE 

To learn more about becoming an InfantSEE provider, click here.

The AOA Foundation is committed to raising awareness about the importance of eye health, increasing access to vision care, and providing support to doctors of optometry and students in need. To support InfantSEE and other initiatives, consider making an end-of-year tax-deductible donation.