senate resolution no.42

Senator Wojno offered the following resolution:

A resolution recognizing May 5-11, 2019, as InfantSEE® Week.

Whereas, The most critical stages of vision development occur in the first year of a child’s life when the eye undergoes rapid and profound changes; and

Whereas, It is recommended infants should receive a comprehensive baseline eye exam between the ages of six to twelve months because undetected eye and vision problems can lead to permanent vision impairment or loss of life; and

Whereas, One-in-ten children are at-risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems. By the time children enter school, nearly 25 percent will need or wear corrective lenses; and

Whereas, One-in-thirty children will be affected by amblyopia– a leading cause of vision loss in people younger than forty-five years; and

Whereas, Undetected vision problems can contribute to a decrease in a child’s quality of life and may lead to developmental and behavioral difficulties which impede classroom learning, as well as increase the costs to society; and

Whereas, Early detection of vision problems is the best way to treat and prevent permanent vision impairment; and

Whereas, Member Optometrists of the American Optometric Association and The Vision Care Institute® of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. have partnered to create InfantSEE®, a public health program to provide a one-time, no cost, eye assessment for infants six to twelve months; and

Whereas, InfantSEE® is a program that is comprised of nearly 4,000 optometrists volunteering their services across the country. InfantSEE® has provided over 140,000 infants with comprehensive eye assessments since the start of the program in 2005; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize the week of May 5-11, 2019, as InfantSEE® Week; and be it further

Resolved, We commend the members of the Michigan Optometric Association and the profession of optometry on the eleventh anniversary of the InfantSEE® program for voluntarily dedicating their expertise and services to the infants of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Optometric Association with our highest esteem.