AS ADOPTED BY SENATE, MAY 1, 2019

senate resolution no.42

Senator Wojno, Alexander, Ananich, Barrett, Bayer, Brinks, Bullock, Chang, Daley, Hertel, Johnson, Lucido, McCann, McMorrow, Moss, Polehanki, Santana, VanderWall and Zorn 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.