5 tips for a tear-free assessment

Excerpted from the July/August 2019 edition of AOA Focus.

Why haven't some doctors of optometry signed on as InfantSEE^® volunteers to provide no-cost vision assessments to infants 6 months to 12 months old?

"I think a lot of people are intimidated by the babies," says Jennifer Smith Zolman, O.D., chair of the AOA's InfantSEE ^® & Children's Vision Committee.

But preparation is the key when it comes to InfantSEE. "It's a really fun exam," she says.

Here are Dr. Smith Zolman's tips for a (mostly) tear-free assessment:

1. Prep parents in advance.
   Tell them the baby should come in for the appointment with a full belly and a clean diaper. And never schedule the visit during nap time!
   
   
2. Access InfantSEE resources.
   Check out AOA's InfantSEE website, which offers free resources including marketing materials and chairside exam guides.
   
   
3. Be ready for baby.
   Make sure all of your equipment is out before the child arrives. Moving quickly through the assessment is the best way to ensure a happy baby.
   
   
4. Know what to look for.
   The main areas of an InfantSEE assessment are ocular motility, binocular function, refraction, looking behavior and ocular health.
   
   
5. Consider the rewards.
   If you've ever seen a viral video of a baby getting their first pair of glasses, you know how their face lights up when they see the world clearly for the first time. As an InfantSEE provider, could there be any greater reward?

Doctors can promote the program using the InfantSEE Advocate Toolkit, which includes logos, videos, InfantSEE talking points, sample social media posts and images, fundraising materials and more. These resources also are available to the public.

More resources from the AOA

A ccess the AOA's evidence-based clinical practice guideline, Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination.

Visit the AOA's Pediatrics & Binocular Vision webpage, with more than a dozen items for your practice, including a Chairside Guide for Vision Examination for various age ranges.