Introduction
In the first year of a child’s life, their eyes develop and change in many ways. Your child’s pediatrician will perform a routine vision screening at their well-child visit to monitor their ocular development. As a parent, you may wonder what normal visual development looks like in the first year of a child’s life and how you can tell if something is off. Knowing what to look for allows you to be proactive about your child’s vision and to ensure the best outcome for their development.
Visual Development in Infants (ages 0-12 months)
Below is a general “roadmap” of healthy visual development in children ages 0-12 months. Every child is different, so it doesn’t necessarily indicate an issue if your infant seems to be hitting milestones a bit slower than this list suggests. However, it is best to address your concerns with their pediatrician if you suspect anything is abnormal.
Newborn infants are sensitive to light and generally have smaller pupils to limit the amount of light that can enter their eyes. Most newborns can see things next to them in their peripheral vision and are still developing their central vision.
As infants’ retinas develop, their pupils will begin to widen. This often takes place over several weeks. They begin to see light and dark spaces, as well as patterns. Bright colors may start to catch their attention.
During the first two months of life, babies’ eyes may not always work in unison. Thus, they may appear to be crossed, or seem to wander outwards. However, they may still be able to follow a moving object with their eyes at about two months of age as their ocular coordination develops.
At about three months old, infants may begin to bat at moving objects that are nearby as their hand-eye coordination develops. By this time, their eyes should be able to work in unison to focus and track moving objects.
Around five months of age, infants tend to have more advanced depth perception (the ability to tell where an object is in relation to themselves). Their 3-D vision is also more developed. These things combined mean that infants get better at reaching for items nearby and far away. They may also begin to recognize their parents (even from across the room) and be able to look out the window and see objects outdoors.
At about eight months old, most babies begin to crawl, further enhancing and developing their hand-eye coordination.
Infants around nine months of age may begin pulling themselves up to stand. At this age, they can usually judge distances fairly well and may begin grasping objects in a manner that requires more advanced fine motor skills and coordination, such as between their thumb and forefinger.
As you can see, many essential visual abilities begin developing during the first year of a child’s life. 3D vision, color vision, depth perception, and ocular coordination are just a few of these skills. Believe it or not, various aspects of a child’s overall development depend on their visual development.
The Importance of Healthy Ocular & Visual Development
Healthy visual development is crucial for children’s overall development. For example, a child who has poor depth perception may struggle with learning to walk or developing adequate fine motor skills. Therefore, it is best to address issues with your child’s visual development as soon as possible. This way, they can receive the help they need to grow and develop properly.
As their parent, you can help your child by closely monitoring their visual health and development. Every child learns and grows at their own unique pace. However, if you have concerns about their development or notice that they don’t seem to be hitting their milestones, communicate these to their pediatrician.
Besides not reaching milestones, here are a few other signs of vision or eye issues in infants and toddlers:
One or both eyes consistently turn in or out
Excessive tearing
Extreme light sensitivity
Excessive squinting
Turning or tilting their head constantly
White spot in pupil or white pupil (this could be a sign of a serious issue; if you notice a white spot in your child’s pupil(s), or one or both of their pupils appear white, contact their pediatrician immediately).
Regardless of symptoms (or lack thereof), all children should receive vision and ocular behavior testing by their pediatrician or family doctor at one, three, and five years old. If you have a family history of eye conditions, your child should see an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive exam. This allows for any abnormalities or issues to be diagnosed and treated promptly.
Conclusion
Children’s eyes undergo many changes as they grow, particularly within the first year of their life. Knowing what is and isn’t normal during this crucial period of development allows you as a parent to be proactive about your child’s ocular and overall development. 3D vision, depth perception, ocular coordination, and color vision are a few abilities that should begin development within this time. Each child grows and develops at their own pace; however, if you have any concerns about their development, it is best to discuss them with their pediatrician.
Thank you for reading, and we hope that you found this article informative!
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