Spectacular Piper

Excerpted from page 36 of the Fall 2025 edition of AOA Focus.

“Baby Piper” became an adorable internet sensation in 2015 when a video of her using glasses for the first time went viral. Over the next decade, that family video would generate millions of views worldwide.

The video also brought national attention to the importance of comprehensive eye care for children—and the AOA’s long-standing campaign to raise awareness of its role in child development. The message was clear: the earlier a condition is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated, improving a child’s chances for a positive outcome. Piper’s story is proof of that.

“I’m about to be 11 and I’m in fourth grade,” Piper says. “I’m in cheer and Girl Scouts and I’m about to do volleyball. I like to draw and do crafts and make books. I like doing gymnastics, too. And if I couldn’t see, I wouldn’t be able to do this stuff as easily.”

Parents sought doctor of optometry

In 2015, when Piper was 10 months old, her parents took her to the pediatrician, concerned she wasn’t meeting certain developmental milestones.  

“She wasn’t walking. She wasn’t crawling,” says Andrew Verdusco, Piper’s father. “She couldn’t grab things off the floor. We noticed something was going on, and we decided to get her checked.”

The pediatrician wisely recommended the family consult an optometrist, and that’s how they met Josiah Young, O.D., of Opticare Vision in Newport, Kentucky. Due to her age, Piper qualified for a no-cost assessment under The AOA Foundation’s InfantSEE® program.

“Dr. Young was amazing,” says Piper’s mother, Jessica Sinclair. “Finding him and being able to get an appointment with him changed everything.”

Dr. Young diagnosed Piper with hyperopia (farsightedness), and everything made sense. After all, it’s estimated that 80% of children’s learning is done through the eyes. For instance, curiosity usually motivates infants to crawl and walk toward things or people that intrigue them.  

Dr. Young examined Piper’s eyes and prescribed glasses.  

An online sensation was born 

Heartwarming videos of infants reacting to their first pair of glasses are commonplace now, but Piper’s video was among one of the first to go viral online. Her parents had no idea that the video views would take off the way they did. After being posted on Facebook, it was shown on CNN, YouTube and other media. 

“I can’t take it,” Savannah Guthrie said when the video appeared on the “Today” show. 

In the video, 10½-month-old Piper is sitting at a table when a pair of pink glasses is placed over her head and onto her face. Her lips curl into a sweet smile and her bright eyes grow wider and wider, as if to say, “Hey, I can see!” Her head swivels back and forth.  

“I wanted to cry, honestly,” Sinclair says, adding, “to see that she could actually see ... I was just so happy.” 

Adds Verdusco, “It’s definitely a great feeling. We look back on it now and our reaction is pretty much the same every time.” 

The reaction: joy. 

Parental advisory 

The video has had a lasting impact, and not only on Piper and her family. Dr. Young’s professional reputation was bolstered. The video raised—and continues to raise—awareness about children’s eye care. 

“Since then, we’ve seen oodles of infants for glasses,” Dr. Young says, noting how publicity from the video had resulted in numerous referrals from other clinicians, including from a nearby children’s hospital.  

“It has had a pleasant effect,” he adds. “It has raised awareness nationwide about getting kids’ eyes checked.  

Ten years later, it’s become more normal. I had to update my frame selection because we were getting so many little ones with glasses.” 

As for Piper, she doesn’t remember the hubbub the video created, but she has been told about it. 

“She’s looking at the magazine right now,” her mother says, referring to the September 2015 issue of AOA Focus that featured her family. 

Says Piper of her reaction in the video: “I was in shock. Maybe I was thinking, ‘I see my parents now.’ I think I was happy about it.” 

Adds Sinclair to Piper, “You could see our faces for the first time.” 

Today, Piper is thriving as a preteen. She has varied interests, including sports and making videos of her own with her friends. Her favorite subjects are science and social studies. Almost always, her glasses are perched on her nose. Without them, Piper says, she feels tired or gets a headache. 

The family continues to encourage other parents to make an appointment with their doctor of optometry if they notice their children are falling short of expected developmental milestones. 

Piper echoes that sentiment. Her message to parents: “Get your kids’ eyes checked!”