From correspondents in Washington, United States, 03:33 PM IST

When should a parent schedule a comprehensive eye assessment for a baby? Clinical research has shown that at six months, the average baby has reached a number of critical developmental milestones, making this an appropriate age for the first eye and vision assessment.

According to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) 2008 survey, only 13 percent of parents ensure their kids receive a comprehensive eye assessment in their first year.

It's estimated that one in 10 children are at risk from an undiagnosed eye or vision problem that, if left untreated, can lead to difficulties later in school or even permanent vision loss.

Additionally, many children at risk for eye and vision problems are not being identified at an early age, when many of those problems might be prevented or more easily corrected.

Infant eye and vision assessments offer early detection of vision and eye health problems and are critical to a child's development.

'Many eye conditions have no visual symptoms so detection by a parent may be difficult,' said Glen Steele, optometrist and chairman of the InfantSEE, a committee of AOA Foundation's public health program.

'Therefore, an early comprehensive vision assessment is the best way to ensure your baby has healthy eyes and appropriate vision development, now and in the future,' he stated.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)