Eye screenings vital to newborns' health

Free classes to teach parents what to look for

Parents have a lot to think about when it comes to the health of a newborn baby. Optometrist Mark Lee wants parents to add one more check-up to their list.

This month, Lee will conduct two free classes for parents on the importance of eye care starting with a recommended first optometry visit at 6 months old.

Many parents, Lee said, don't think about their child's vision if nothing appears to be wrong, and they haven't noticed a strain in sight.

"There's some very serious things that are very rare but are vision threatening for sure," Lee said. "Obviously, if it's caught earlier, or caught, the prognosis is better."

In the first six months to one year of life, genetic conditions are apparent. Diseases like infant glaucoma and tumors also can be detected.

The next check-up should be at age 3, where a doctor can spot problems such as "lazy eye" or eye turn.

Before a child begins school, between the ages of 5 and 6, is when a doctor could prescribe glasses.

The first visits are for eye health and well-being. Infants and toddlers rarely need glasses, Lee said.

"You're not going to get from anyone under the age of 6 'Mom, I can't see. It's blurry.' If you had astigmatism, but you had astigmatism since you were 2, you have no reference to what is blurry and what isn't blurry," Lee said.

A "lazy eye" seems harmless to some parents, Lee said. But it can become a problem harder to fix if left alone.

"If it's caught late, it can be sort of fixed, but the prognosis isn't as good," Lee said. "That's the one I see day in and day out."

Lee got the idea for the free classes from his patients. Many times he asked parents if the eyes of their 1, 2, or 3-year-old had been checked. More often than not, the answer was no, he said.

Many optometrists have ways to test the vision of young children even though the child can't tell the doctor which eye can see better.

"So many people don't realize we can do eye exams on young kids, and it's important," Lee said. "There are things we wouldn't think about or wouldn't notice."

Along with eye care in young children, Lee is set to address basic eye safety, common eye diseases, how to prepare a child for an exam and what to expect during the visit.

The first class is set for today at 1 p.m. at the Family to Family Connection, 6114 W. Charleston Blvd. The second class is set for April 29 at the Family to Family Connection, 1120 Shadow Lane. Those interested can call 870-9583 to register for the West Charleston location and 383-7058 for the Shadow Lane location.

Lee is also scheduled to speak to parents of Mommy and Me West at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., on May 25 at 10 am. For information, call 228-0448.


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