InfantSEE® Program

Mom holding her smiling infant daughter

Dakota Eye Institute is proud to be a participant with the InfantSEE® program. Dr. Thomas Samson and Dr. Michael Ranum provide the InfantSEE program assessment at no cost to the patient.

The InfantSEE® assessment offers early detection of potential eye and vision problems as a complement to the eye screening conducted in a pediatric well-care visit. A comprehensive assessment between the ages of 6 months and 12 months is recommended to determine healthy development of vision. Risk factors for many eye conditions, including amblyopia (often referred to as lazy eye), muscle imbalances, and some ocular diseases, have no signs or symptoms and may not be detected in a well-baby check-up. Such pediatrician visits include care and services performed by all personnel and last an average of 22 minutes, which is ample time for screening and detecting potential large-scope health problems. However, significant risk factors for eye and vision disorders are not detectable by base-level infant eye screening, and even early retinoblastoma, the seventh most common pediatric cancer, is detected more than 80 percent of the time outside the doctor’s office by a family member or friend.

How an InfantSEE® Assessment is Conducted

Although infants cannot speak, optometrists have the clinical education, training and experience, as well as the instruments and resources, to provide non-invasive eye and vision assessments for any non-verbal patients such as infants. Additionally, volunteer InfantSEE® optometrists have access to additional AOA training in working effectively with babies – and parents.

During the assessment, parents might hold the baby on their laps or on a lap pillow and might also assist by holding targets or toys to hold the baby’s attention. Optometrists will gauge the babies’ comfort levels with specific techniques and adjust them as necessary, but will typically evaluate visual acuity, refraction, motility, alignment, binocularity and overall eye health. As detailed below, these tests will determine signs of strabismus, amblyopia or diseases of the eye.

Following the assessment, in addition to sharing findings with the parents, the optometrist may send summary information to the infant’s pediatrician, family physician or other appropriate practitioners reporting and explaining any significant condition diagnosed in the course of the assessment.

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Bismarck - South Clinic

200 South 5th Street
Bismarck, ND 58504

(701) 222-3937 Or (800) 344-5634
(701) 222-8805
HOURS
Mon: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
Tue: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
Wed: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
Thu: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
*Fri: 7:30AM - 4:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
 *Summer Hours (May 24th - Sept 2nd):
   Fri: 7:30AM - 3:00PM

Bismarck - North Clinic

3119 North 14th Street
Bismarck, ND 58503

(701) 222-3937 Or (800) 344-5634
(701) 222-8805
HOURS
Mon: 7:30AM - 8:00PM
Tue: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
Wed: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
Thu: 7:30AM - 6:00PM
*Fri: 7:30AM - 4:00PM
*Sat: 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Sun: Closed
 *Summer Hours (May 24th - Sept 2nd):
   Fri: 7:30AM - 3:00PM
   1st & 3rd Sat of the month: Closed
   2nd & 4th Sat of the month: Open 8:00AM - 12:00PM

Dakota Eye Surgery Center

430 East Sweet Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58504

(701) 222-4900 Or (800) 344-5634
(701) 222-4999
HOURS
Mon: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Tue: 7:00AM - 5:00PM
Wed: 7:00AM - 5:00PM
Thu: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
*Fri: 7:30AM - 4:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
 *Summer Hours (May 24th - Sept 2nd):
   Fri: 7:30AM - 3:00PM

Linton Clinic

114 Broadway Street North, Suite 1
Linton, ND 58552

(701) 254-4450 Or (800) 344-5634
HOURS
Mon: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Closed Noon-1pm)
Tue: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Closed Noon-1pm)
Wed: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Closed Noon-1pm)
Thu: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Closed Noon-1pm)
Fri: Closed
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
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(701) 222-3937