Your Infant's Visual Development

By Dr. Diana Monea, Optometrist

Did you know? That infants are born with an underdeveloped visual system.

Throughout the first year of life a child's vision will grow and develop. Before the baby is born it is imperative that a mother eats a well-balanced nutritionally favorable diet for the child's eyes to develop properly. A new borns' vision should be thoroughly checked at birth and a complete visual health exam should be done at 6 months and annually there after if no visual problem exists because visual changes occur as a baby develops.

The First 3 Months:

Babies usually see movement before anything else-their vision is still evolving
Full term babies should be able to see their mother's facial expression within 1 week of birth
Colour vision is not fully developed at this time
Depth perception (ability to judge distances) matures during the first year of life as long as both of the child's eyes are working together as a team

Eye Muscle Coordination in a newborn, as well as a small child, is also very immature. Babies can exhibit eyes turned in, turned out or not working as a team, called STRABISMUS. This happens when the muscles of one eye pull more than the muscles on the other side. If this problem does not resolve itself by age 3 or 4 months, consult Dr. Monea, immediately! You do not want a LAZY eye to develop!

When to ask for help?

Your child's eyes are grossly turned in or out
Your child's eyes don't move normally before age 3 months
If the eye is crossed far into the nasal area
One eye moves while the other remains still
One eye appears radically different from the other

Catching STRABISMUS early is important because AMBLYOPIA (lazy eye) may result if strabismus is left untreated

How does an AMBLYOPIC eye Develop? If a child does not see well out of one eye due to strabismus, or a very high uncorrected refractive error, the eyes are not working as a team to see. I f the brain does not receive visual images from that eye, eventually the brain will "shut off" that eye and if immediate intervention is not taken the vision can be permanently lost!

PREMATURE BABIES: (BABIES BORN BEFORE 40 WEEKS)

Premature babies take longer to develop their vision
A preemie , born 1 month early usually develops normal vision
Children born before 35 weeks have a 30% chance of developing strabismus or amblyopia!

What should you expect visually from a NEW BORN?

Your infant should pay close attention to his mobile, or bright lights in a room
Your child should follow a toy passed in front of him from side to side by age 3 months

NYSTAGMUS:

Eyes oscillate back and forth. This condition may be caused by poor vision, defects in the nerve pathway from the eye to the brain or ALBINISM-where the retina contains too little pigment for the eyes to fiunction properly.

Please Note: 3 to 4 months of age is an important time for vision development in a child-Ensure that your child is visually on track!

From 4 to 6 Months:

Your child should start to reach or bat at the mobile or toys you hold in front of them

From 6 to 8 Months:

Your child child should roll over and crawl, entice him visually with a toy to gain by rolling over or moving a few inches

From 8 to 12 Months:

Your child may be crawling or walking, encourage crawling rather than walking to help your child develop eye-hand coordination. Remember that depth perception is still maturing so watch your child closely so they do not take any dangerous tumbles.

Many stacking toys as cups or blocks can develop vision and have FUN at the same time.

Please Remember: 80% of learning is through vision, have your child's eyes examined thoroughly, early starting at 6 Months! Eye examinations are paid by Alberta Health, annually to age 18, inclusive. Call us Today At: 2 LOCATIONS: Shawnee Eye Health Centre-254-1141, 14363 Mcleaod Tr. S. (off Banister Rd) Or Kensington (beside Original Joe's) #100-1228 Kensinton Rd.N.W.-283-6636 or e-mail: dr_monea@hotmail.com or www.drmonea.com.

The information provided in this article and elsewhere on this website are for informational purposes only, and should NOT be considered a medical diagnosis or advice. When in doubt, please visit your local optometrist for a complete professional evaluation.