INFANTS

A young child’s formative years are vital ones. Their visual abilities play a large role in this early development. Seeing an Optometrist at this time can prevent potentially vision-threatening disorders.

Newborns have all the ocular structures necessary to see, although they are not yet fully developed. At birth, infants can see patterns of light and dark, although specific objects are probably blurred. During the first four months, their visual horizon will expand from a few centimeters to many metres. Vision will become clearer and colour vision will begin developing. The two eyes will start working together. It is believed that by four months of age, an infant’s colour vision is similar to an adult’s. By the sixth month, babies acquire eye movement control and develop eye-hand coordination skills.

For the first six months an infant’s eyes at times appear crossed or out of alignment, but this is usually normal. However, after six months of age persistent misalignment should be reported to an Optometrist without delay: treatment of strabismus should begin at an early age.

Another condition that, if left untreated, will deteriorate with time, is amblyopia. It can be diagnosed in infants as young as six months, and early treatment is advised for best results. Treatment becomes very difficult after age eight.

Children should have their first full eye examination by age three—much like their first dental check-up—even if there is no family history of eye problems. Of course, if parents do have such a family history or suspect vision problems, an earlier examination is wise. A child does not need to be able to read or even talk to be examined. Schedule one today.

Source : www.optometrists.bc.ca
All content here is provided for information and education—it is no substitute for the advice of your B.C. Optometrist. The MT. Pleasant Optometry Centre assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any errors or omissions or from the use of any information contained herein.