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The Community Information Guide provides the latest news, upcoming events and local city directories.
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www.slfp.com
St. Louis Front Page
P. O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188
www.slfp.com
Voice: 314-771-0200
Fax: 314-771-0300
To submit news, contact:
editor@slfp.com
Please e-mail
advertising@slfp.com
or call 314-771-0200 for information or questions about advertising opportunities in the Community Section.
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Missouri's Optometrists to Provide Free Professional Eye care for Infants
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), June 7, 2009 - Due to the overwhelming number of children with eye and vision problems across the United States, St. Louis Metro Area optometrists are devoting appointments to no-cost, comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants between six to 12 months of age through InfantSEE(R).
InfantSEE(R), a public health program developed by Optometry's Charity(TM) - The AOA Foundation in partnership with The Vision Care Institute(TM), LLC a Johnson & Johnson company, was designed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide at no-cost, regardless of family income or number of eligible children.
"Unfortunately I know all too well just how important early identification is since a condition that went undiagnosed when I was a child has led to permanent vision loss in my right eye," said U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.).
"Through their work with the InfantSEE(R) program, Missouri's optometrists are an important part of the solution to helping children across the state avoid conditions like mine. This year I was proud to reintroduce with Senator Dodd the 'Vision Care for Kids Act' to combat undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in children. Support by Missouri's optometrists has been critical and I will continue to work with the vision community to bring attention to this important issue."
Leading members of the U.S. House of Representatives delegation from Missouri have also expressed their support for the InfantSEE(R) program. Reps. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) and Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) urged local parents to have their infant's eyes assessed during InfantSEE(R) Week.
To encourage parents to take advantage of the InfantSEE(R) program and to help protect infant vision and eye health, Mayor Francis G. Slay has officially declared Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12 InfantSEE(R) Week in the St Louis Metro Area.
One in 10 children are at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems, which, if undetected, could lead to permanent vision impairment, and in rare cases, life-threatening health risks. However, only 14 percent of children from infancy to age six have had a comprehensive eye assessment from an eye care professional. In the St. Louis Metro Area, great strides are being made to ensure that potential eye and vision problems are detected early. Infant eye assessments have been available in Missouri since the InfantSEE(R) program launched in 2005.
"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. Thomas Cullinane, a St. Louis-area optometrist and InfantSEE(R) provider. "It's the ideal time to detect eye and vision problems before these conditions worsen or cause developmental delays."
InfantSEE(R) assessments are complementary to the routine well-care exams a baby receives from a pediatrician or family physician. Optometrists have the training to identify areas of risk that are critical to vision development and the skills to identify conditions that might not be detected in a routine pediatric wellness exam. In some cases, conditions may need to be monitored, immediately treated or referred to a pediatric eye specialist.
To learn more about InfantSEE(R), visit www.InfantSEE.org or call 888-396-3937.
Archived St. Louis Community Health News:
 Children's Health Advocacy Project Receives Funding
November is Missouri Family Health History Month
Tweens and Teens Double Use of Diabetes Drugs
Missouri Receives Grants to Benefit Mothers, Babies
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Brings Thousands to Downtown St. Louis for the 10th Annual Event
As Temperatures Heat Up, Cool Down St. Louis Receives Major Assistance from AmerenUE
Long Term Care Costs in Missouri Increased as Much as Three Times National Average
Washington University in St. Louis and AstraZeneca to Collaborate Alzheimer's Research
New Report Estimates 10 Million Baby Boomers Will Develop Alzheimer's Disease in the United States
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