{"id":11751,"date":"2021-05-30T06:01:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T06:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=11751"},"modified":"2021-07-15T07:06:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T07:06:05","slug":"babies-and-vision-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-visual-development\/babies-and-vision-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Babies and Vision Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Babies and toddlers who do not have healthy eyes may not be able to reach their developmental milestones.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>All babies should have their eyes examined when they reach 6 months.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Babies depend heavily on their vision to explore and learn about the world around them. Many people are unaware that vision, like walking and talking, is a learned ability and your baby&#8217;s eyes benefit from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/a-guide-to-eye-turns\/how-to-stimulate-your-childs-vision\/\"> visual stimulation.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s so important to make sure your child&#8217;s eyes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-vision-development\/\">vision are developing<\/a> normally. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the warning signs mentioned below, as they may indicate the need to see an optometrist.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>Schedule an eye exam<\/b><\/a> with an eye doctor near you to make sure your baby&#8217;s eyes are developing properly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-visual-development\/babies-and-vision-problems\/vision-problems-and-babies-part-2-qa\/\">Vision Problems and Babies: Part 2 Q&amp;A<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Signs That May Indicate a Vision Problem In Infants<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The following signs and symptoms may indicate your baby has a vision problem:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Difficulty maintaining eye contact<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Excessive tearing or watery eyes<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Extreme light sensitivity<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Eye pain or discomfort that doesn\u2019t resolve<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Eyes that rapidly move from side to side or up and down<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Eye turn, when one eye turns inward, outward, up or down<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Persistent eye redness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Squinting or head tilting<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Very droopy eyelids<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">White or grayish coloring in the pupil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Schedule an appointment<\/b> with an eye doctor near you who can evaluate your baby\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n<p><b>Visual Milestones<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The visual milestones mentioned below are vital to achieve as your baby grows into a toddler during the first two years of life.<\/p>\n<h3><b>0-4 Months\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>When babies are born, they are usually able to focus on objects that are about 9 inches away (the distance between their eyes and their parent\u2019s face while being held).<\/p>\n<p>After a few months, a baby&#8217;s vision develops quickly, enabling them to monitor moving objects with their eyes and begin to learn hand-eye coordination.<\/p>\n<p>If you find that your newborn&#8217;s eyes tend to be crossed or that one eye turns outward at times, this is usually\u00a0 nothing to worry about and will likely go away as their visual system progresses.<\/p>\n<p>Important:, if you notice anything unusual, <b>schedule an appointment<\/b> with an eye doctor near you.<\/p>\n<p>After 3 to 4 months, babies should be able to reach for things and track moving objects.<\/p>\n<h3><b>5-8 Months<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Babies begin to see the world in 3 dimensions at around 5 months. Color and depth perception are new visual skills that evolve during these months.<\/p>\n<p>Most babies start to learn to crawl at this age. Crawling helps a baby&#8217;s hand-foot-body coordination while also strengthening their visual system. When they crawl, babies look up into the distance, then down at their hands, then back up again.<\/p>\n<p>Binocular vision and hand-eye coordination are improved by constantly changing their points of focus in coordination with their own movement.<\/p>\n<h3><b>9-12 Months\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>At this age, a baby should be able to pick up small objects with their thumb and forefinger.<\/p>\n<p>Most babies may also attempt to pull themselves to a standing position. They may even try to walk. Encouraging a child to crawl as soon as possible can help them develop hand-eye coordination and binocular vision.<\/p>\n<p>A baby of this age should also have a good sense of distance.<\/p>\n<h3><b>12-24 Months\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Typically, by the age of 2, hand-eye coordination is well developed. Toddlers this age are able to point out objects in a picture book and recognize faces.<\/p>\n<h2><b>What Can Parents Do For Their Baby\u2019s Visual Health?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In order to develop a healthy visual system, babies need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/a-guide-to-eye-turns\/how-to-stimulate-your-childs-vision\/\">visual stimulation<\/a>. Parents should engage in age-appropriate activities that will boost their child\u2019s visual development.<\/p>\n<p>Ways to help with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-vision-development\/\">visual development<\/a> include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Providing plenty of free play with toys on the floor<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Talking to your baby as you walk around the room to help develop their visual tracking skills<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Reading books and pointing to objects<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Giving your child building blocks and balls that support visual spatial skills and fine motor skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-visual-development\/\">Guide to Visual Development<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If your baby is nearly 6 months old, or if you suspect\u00a0 a visual problem whatever your child\u2019s age, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>schedule an evaluation<\/b><\/a> with an eye doctor near you.<\/p>\n<p>The earlier any visual problems are diagnosed, the better the outcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Babies depend heavily on their vision to explore and learn about the world around them. Many people are unaware that vision, like walking and talking, is a learned ability and your baby&#8217;s eyes benefit from visual stimulation. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s so important to make sure your child&#8217;s eyes and vision are developing normally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11752,"parent":12323,"menu_order":15,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[85,95,358,149,539,538],"class_list":["post-11751","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-children","tag-childrens-vision","tag-vision-development","tag-vision-skills","tag-visual-milestones","tag-visual-stimulation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Babies and Vision Problems - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-visual-development\/babies-and-vision-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Babies and Vision Problems - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Babies depend heavily on their vision to explore and learn about the world around them. 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