EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
First Years
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Babies come into this world with a lot of innate abilities, but keen vision is not one of them. Unlike a strong pair of lungs always at the ready to request another meal, or a mysterious sense of smell that helps her differentiate between you and a well-meaning caregiver, your baby’s eyes are only just beginning to provide her with vague glimpses of the world that surrounds her. But not to worry. Babies’ eyes develop very rapidly in the first few months of life, reaching near-adult capabilities by just 6 months of age, says Dr. Michael Rouse, professor of optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton. And the good news is, there is not much that parents need to do to help that development along. “For most kids who have no risk factors at birth, the normal visual environment that parents present is enough,” says Dr. Rouse. “For example, a nursery with color, contrast, interesting things to look at, touch, and see in detail. Some people even like to move around the crib so that baby gets to look at different views within the room.” However, parents must make certain to have baby’s vision checked by 12 months. There is a push among optical professionals to introduce mandatory eye testing for children nationwide. “We’re really working on prevention,” explains Dr. Rouse, who deals with many pediatric vision problems as chief of the Center for Vision Research at the college. “With early intervention, many eye diseases can be successfully treated, and we can fix problems that endanger a child’s visual development. After all, their eyes give them most of the information they need to process for early learning.” If you’re wondering how your baby’s eyes are focusing in on the world around her during that first year, here’s a rundown of key developmental stages and a peek at what things look like through her eyes. At birth During the first few weeks, baby’s vision is blurry and monochromatic. Her eyes don’t yet have the ability to adjust focus from near to far. Instead they settle on objects approximately 30 centimeters away; handy since that’s just about the distance between a mother’s face and a baby cradled in her arms. Baby can see the outline of a head, a mouth, and eyes, which leads to a fixation on faces. She is also captivated by the contrast of light and dark and likely stares at bright lights for long periods. The natural attraction to high-contrast images has spurred a flood of “developmental” toys for babies recently. You may wonder if these toys are really necessary. “Not really,” says Dr. Rouse. “But, if you have a choice between two toys, why not get the one that fits in with the research and helps visual development?” The tie between infant eyesight and other skills is undeniable. While the initial focusing distance helps promote interaction between baby and mom, improved visual resolution also coincides with the onset of hand-eye coordination and baby’s ability to begin reaching out for things. Don’t be alarmed if you notice that your baby’s eyes do not always appear to be looking in the same direction, assures Dr. Rouse. During the first few months there can be a lot of disjunctive eye movements as the brain and the eye movement system continue to develop together. 3 months By this age, your baby’s vision has significantly improved and she’s seeing colors rather than just black and white. If she could read, she’d tell you about the big E on the standard eye chart, since her visual acuity is typically about 20/200. Her eyes can now move from target to target with greater ease, and depth perception is starting to develop. In addition to being fixated on faces and lights, you may find your baby looking toward sources of noise. It is important for parents to be observant now and throughout the first year, advises Dr. Rouse. For example, if you notice at this age that one eye is continually turned in, contact a professional. 6 months By this time, the most tremendous vision developments have already occurred. Vision acuity is probably about 20/100, but some computer tests suggest it may be even higher in many babies. In fact, your baby’s vision might even be better than yours! If you’re working on solid foods, remember that some of baby’s favorite first foods, like sweet potatoes and carrots, are high in beta carotene, which are key building blocks for cells on the retina. Warning signs at this age include discolored pupils, which might mean congenital cataracts, or in extremely rare cases, a tumor. If one of baby’s eyes still turns out at after 6 months, it may reveal a permanent condition. See a professional. 1 year Between 6 months and one year, baby’s vision is simply fine tuning, explains Dr. Rouse. Visual acuity should be about 20/50, and despite what you may have heard, the eye itself continues to grow slightly up to age 5. When you go out with baby, don’t hesitate to point out all the interesting things you see. Be assured, she’s seeing them, too. For more information about infant vision, visit the American Optometric Association website at www.aoa.org Michele Piazzoni of Folsom is a regular contributor. |
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