<< back to VISION SCREENING topics

Just like talking, walking, and reading, vision is a skill that must be learned. Babies start learning as soon as they are born, when they open their eyes for the first time and and see the world around them. Although babies can see as soon as they are born, their eyes still have a lot of growing to do. Over the first few months, their eyes will improve and change dramatically.  At first, the eyes will have trouble working together, and their color may change from blue to brown or green. Objects soon become less blurry and slowly, babies learn to give meaning to the sights around them. As these changes take place, babies love to practice using their eyes. Vision is an important tool that helps them learn and interact with the new world around them.

Because seeing is such an important part of the learning process, it is crucial that you make sure your child's eyes are healthy. The best time to catch vision problems in children is early on, as their eyes grow and develop.Vision disorders are the fourth most common type of disability among children in the United States. Nearly four million children will start school this year with impaired vision, and many of these cases will go undetected. Poor vision will not only make learning difficult for these children, but if untreated, it could also affect the way these children see (or do not see) the world around them for the rest of their lives. 

Treatment options for impaired vision that are effective when a child is young may be useless once a child’s eyes are fully mature.  Therefore, preventing a vision problem before it starts, or as soon as it starts, is the best way to ensure that your child’s vision will be healthy for a lifetime of learning and observing.

Here are some guidelines that will help you determine how your child's eyes are growing and developing. Remember, many vision problems can be fixed if caught early on. While it is normal for children to develop at different rates, if you think your child is significantly off-schedule, see a doctor.

Your newborn
Your newborn baby can see from day one.  At first he focuses best on the objects 8 to 14 inches from his face—about the distance from your face to his as you hold him in your arms—but he can see objects farther away as well; they are just a little blurrier.  Your baby will like to look at faces, movements, and brightness for the first couple of weeks.  He likes contrasting colors—like black and white or red and yellow.  Try to give your baby plenty of things to look at.  Move him around during the day so that he has a chance to explore this new and exciting world.

Your baby’s eyes might change color from blue to green or brown.  This depends on what eye-color genes were inherited, and it is normal for them to change.

As your baby’s eyes develop and strengthen, his eyes may seem to look in different directions (go “wall-eyed”) briefly.  He just needs a little practice.  By the second month, his eyes will be much stronger and more coordinated.

2 to 7 months of age
During the first three months, your baby’s vision will improve dramatically.  He will be able to focus on distant objects, and his eyes should be working together.  His depth perception is improving too.  If you move a toy from side to side in front of his face, his eyes will probably be able to follow it.  He may even move his head back as you move an object towards his face, or reach for it with his hand. 

By this time, your baby will probably recognize you as you enter the room, and he will watch your face when you talk to him. He will also like to watch himself in the mirror, so think about installing a baby-safe mirror in his crib. He loves looking at the world around him, so take him outside or to new places that he has not seen before. If there is a mobile above his bed, change it from time to time so that he can look at something new.

Around six months, your baby will be able to produce tears.  Until then, his cries may be loud but they will be dry.

As he gets older, he will start to distinguish colors better, and he will love looking at books with large, bright pictures. As your baby starts to crawl and then slowly learns to walk, supervise your child closely. His hand-eye coordination and depth perception are still developing, and this can result in many bumps and bruises. Your newly-mobile child does not yet understand that steps lead up or down, and that the end of the couch leads into empty space.

8 to 12 months of age
At this age your baby can see quite well.  He will be able to focus on objects moving quickly.  He will also begin coordinating his hands and eyes, and he will look at an object and then pick it up.  He still loves faces and bright pictures, and he also likes objects with parts that he can take apart and put back together.  Just be sure that none of the parts are small enough that he can put in his mouth and swallow. By this point, he is able to stare at objects for longer periods of time and can look around the room to see what is happening. When a toy drops or falls, he should be able to look for it, and he can crawl towards his favorite toy when he sees it.

13 to 24 months of age
Between your baby's first and second year, his eyes will become noticeably stronger and more coordinated. During this time, he will start to point at objects or people and know what "look" and "see" mean. His hand-eye coordination and motor-control are improving, and he will love to inspect things closely and fully. Many toys, from mobiles to stacking cups and building blocks, can help your child's vision develop while he plays. Talk to your pediatrician or eye care specialist about appropriate development toys.

Your preschooler (3 to 5 years of age)
As your toddler grows into a preschooler, his vision will continue to develop and fine-tune itself. He will continue to practice his hand-eye coordination with activities such as learning to ride a bike, writing his name, and walking up and down stairs. Even if your child shows no signs of a vision problem, you should take him in to see an eye care specialist at this time. Many vision problems may cause permanent damage if not caught before four years of age.