SUNY Optometry and the University Eye Center, in partnership with InfantSEE® and the Allergan Foundation, will host a presentation on pediatric vision health by Dr. Glenn Steele and a performance by Tom Sullivan on April 26th, 2013 at the SUNY School of Optometry:
This event is designed as a platform to not only spread the word about a very special program known as InfantSEE, but also to educate other professionals about how crucial vision is in the developmental process. The balance between Glenn Steele, an Optometrist who serves as a professor at the Southern College of Optometry in the Pediatric Service as well as the chair of the AOA’s InfantSEE Committee and Tom Sullivan, a well-known actor and entertainer who is legally blind, gives this event a very different vibe than many other of its kind.
With a passion for this subject, Tom Sullivan has paired up with the AOA to raise awareness of the importance of infant and pediatric eye care. Mr. Sullivan’s performances throughout the event will depict real-life experiences dealing with vision loss (he suffered from Retinopathy of Prematurity-ROP). He also will set up a series of challenges for the students, portraying one goal in particular: follow your patient’s throughout any diagnosis. He uses the mantra, “I will walk with you every step of the way” to reinforce that Optometrists have a special opportunity to be part of their patient’s care and create a relationship with them in a way many other health care providers cannot. Through all of these things, Mr. Sullivan will encourage students to become active participants (or at least advocates) in the InfantSEE program when they become practicing Optometrist.
Dr. Steele, on the other hand, will serve as the director of a panel of professionals including O.Ds and development specialists (non-O.D.s) to bring awareness about the InfantSEE program and the role of the optometrists in early childhood development. During this part of the presentation, the audience will be educated that InfantSEE is a public health program that is designed to, “ensure that eye and vision care becomes an essential part of infant wellness care to improve a child’s quality of life.” This goal is achieved by participating optometrists providing infants between the ages of 6-12 months old free comprehensive eye examinations.
Between these two men this event’s message is clear: infant vision is a crucial part of development and should not be ignored. With programs like InfantSEE set up, there are no excuses for children with vision problems to go undetected.
I encourage all students’ in the NY area to attend the event. If you are interested in getting this event at your school, please contact me at my email address (mldangelo11(at)gmail.com). If you want to learn more about anything discussed- here are the links:
InfantSee Website: http://www.infantsee.org/
Tom Sullivan: http://sullivanlive.com/
