St. Louis Metro Area Optometrists Partner With Sen. Bond; U.S. House Leaders in Improving...

St. Louis Metro Area Optometrists Partner With Sen. Bond; U.S. House Leaders
in Improving Infant Eye and Vision Care

No-cost, comprehensive eye and vision assessments provided by InfantSEE(R)
Program

ST. LOUIS, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- 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."

The program launched in 2005 with support from former President Jimmy Carter,
honorary national chair. Nearly 8,000 optometrists nationwide volunteer their
time to provide assessments to babies in their communities. The majority of
vision problems detected included retinoblastoma (eye cancer), severe
hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), congenital glaucoma and
congenital cataract.

"As a parent, one of my biggest concerns is making sure my child's development
is on track," said Christie Burdek, local mother of Ben, now age 3 1/2. "Ben
was diagnosed with infantile glaucoma and myopia through the InfantSEE(R)
program. However, early detection and treatment helped stabilize his
condition. Now, Ben is exposed to a whole new world, with so many sights to
explore."

To continue to improve infant eye assessment rates in the St. Louis Metro
Area, the following eye care providers will offer no-cost InfantSEE(R) eye
assessments from June 8 - 12, by appointment:

ARNOLD
Dr. Diane Wilson
1235 Water Tower
636-296-8612

CREVE COEUR
Dr. Thomas Cullinane
12619 Olive Blvd.
314-579-0909

ELLISVILLE
Dr. Gary DeLancey
113 Old State Rd
636-256-7800

FLORISSANT
Dr. Paul Whitten
875 St. Francois
314-839-2400

MARYLAND HEIGHTS
Fox Eye Care Professionals
2037 Dorsett Village Rd
314-205-9797

O'FALLON
Dr. Robert Goerss
Dr. Erin Gagnon
302 E. Pitman St.
636-272-1444

Regional Eyecare Assc.
3013 Winghaven Blvd
636-561-3937

ST. CHARLES
Dr. Angela MacDonald
1592 Country Club Plaza Dr.
636-949-2900

ST. LOUIS
Barbara Aalbers
621 S. New Ballas Rd.
314-251-6430

Dr. Michael Antoine
2493 St. Louis Galleria
314-862-1525

Dr. Thebe Bagwasi
3270 Telegraph Rd.
314-845-3164

Dr. Cheryl Davidson
12401 Olive Blvd., #206
314-628-9100

Dr. Frank Fontana
16 Hampton Village Plaza, Ste. 249
314-353-6171

Dr. Ralph Garzia
8100 Natural Bridge Rd. c/o UMSL
314-516-5358

Dr. Steven Rosen
474 Crestwood Plaza
314-968-3660

Dr. Sara Schmitz
2533 Woodson
314-423-3874

Dr. Erin Sullivan
621 S. New Ballas Rd., # 5006B
314-432-5478

Dr. Jeffrey Weaver
7800 Natural Bridge Rd. c/o UMSL
314-516-5131

TOWN & COUNTRY
Dr. Lisa Dibler
171 Lamp and Lantern Vlg.
636-527-8877

TROY
Dr. Kurt Finklang
Dr. Rachel Merriman
84 Professional Pkwy
636-528-2020

WEBSTER GROVES
Dr. Cheryl Davidson
7954 Big Bend Blvd
314-628-9100

WENTZVILLE
Dr. Matt Wickham
Dr. Lisa Mackey
1776 Crosswinds Dr.
636-327-8433

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.

About InfantSEE(R)
InfantSEE(R) is a public health program managed by Optometry's Charity(TM) -
The AOA Foundation. Designed to ensure that eye and vision care become an
integral part of infant wellness and improve a child's quality of life,
doctors of optometry provide one eye and vision assessment to infants
free-of-charge regardless of socioeconomic status. For more information visit
infantsee.org.

About the American Optometric Association
American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified,
trained doctors, on the frontline of eye health and vision care, who examine,
diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to
providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in an
individual's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases.
Doctors of optometry have the skills and training to provide more than
two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States. The American
Optometric Association represents more than 36,000 doctors of optometry,
optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians in nearly
6,500 communities across the country. For more information, visit
www.aoa.org.

About The Vision Care Institute
The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. is an
innovative educational resource created to prepare optometry students for a
successful transition into the real world of delivering quality eye care, as
well as to assist practicing Eye Care Professionals in the growth and
development of their practice. The state-of-the-art facility gives
participants a rare opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the latest
in vision diagnostic and treatment technologies through hands-on contact lens
instruction. Besides clinical training, participants also concentrate on
communication skills. The curriculum, taught by leading eye care
practitioners from around the country, gives participants the skills and
confidence necessary to excel in today's professional practice. The Vision
Care Institute has hosted students from all 19 of the schools and colleges of
optometry throughout North America at its headquarters in Jacksonville,
Florida.

Contact: Julie Mahoney Madonna Duncan
American Optometric Association Hill & Knowlton
(314) 991-4100 x4176 (312) 255-3143
JMMahoney@aoa.org madonna.duncan@hillandknowlton.com

SOURCE InfantSEE

Julie Mahoney of American Optometric Association, +1-314-991-4100, ext. 4176,
JMMahoney@aoa.org; or Madonna Duncan of Hill & Knowlton, +1-312-255-3143,
madonna.duncan@hillandknowlton.com, for InfantSEE