INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO 3600 W. Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 773.782.2800 fax 773.782.5042 info@infantwelfare.org
a healthy child
At the Infant Welfare Society, families have access to a br
oad range of services
rarely available under one roof. In addition to pediatrics, child development services,
obstetrics, gynecology, pediatric dental care and orthodontics, a full-time optometry
clinic offers eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions and treatment for common eye ailments.
“Only about 18% of all community health centers across the nation have a full-time optometrist, and in Illinois, it’s even more rare.” says Deana Labrosse, O.D., lead optometrist at Infant Welfare. “Vision is crucial to healthy child development, because it is the primary way that children gain information. Optometry is a perfect fit with the overall philosophy of holistic care at Infant Welfare.”
Dr. Labrosse and her staff see patients from birth to 18. Children receive regular eye exams, including those required for entry to kindergarten, as well as prescriptions for glasses. Pediatricians also refer infants and children for treatment of common eye problems, such as eye infections and clogged tear ducts.
In December 2008, Infant Welfare expanded the optometry clinic’s hours from one day a week to five, plus alternating Saturdays. The optometry staff includes a medical assistant, who is fluent in Spanish, and a resident from the Illinois College of Optometry.
“The waiting list for an eye exam was four months long before we expanded our optometry hours,” Dr. Labrosse said. “Today we see about 15 children per day. Providers of optometry services for children with state-funded medical insurance are very difficult to find, so many children are referred to us from other community health care centers.”
The ease of making internal patient referrals for eye exams contributes to the seamless continuum of care for Infant Welfare patients and families. Illinois offers public reimbursement for eyeglasses, so every child with public health insurance at Infant Welfare who needs glasses can receive a free pair from a nearby outlet.
Since many children have a medical need for contacts, such as astigmatism or pronounced differences in the vision of each eye, Infant Welfare recently expanded services to include prescriptions for contact lenses. Dr. Labrosse has also found that contacts are an important alternative for children and adolescents who resist wearing glasses.
While the main focus is children, the optometry clinic also treats adult women who are referred by their physicians due to health conditions that may manifest themselves in the eye, such as diabetes, hypertension, neurological conditions and autoimmune disorders.
OPTOMETRY SERVICES
“Only about 18% of all community health centers across the nation have a full-time optometrist. Because providers of optometry services for children with state funded medical insurance are very difficult to find, many children are referred to us from other community health care centers.”
Deana Labrosse O.D.
Lead Optometrist,
Infant Welfare
DID YOU KNOW?
FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM
OPTOMETRY SERVICES
RARELY FOUND IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS