Every August, primary care practices push through volumes of back-to-school well-checks and early-age screenings. Among the anomalies that medical practices aim to identify in youth, emerging vision conditions are ranked among the most critical to screen for, address and prevent from worsening if caught and treated in the early years of life. Myopia (near-sightedness) is a common, but concerning condition that begins in early childhood and worsens as a child grows if left untreated. As it progresses undetected, it can be hard to correct blurriness and other consequences of myopia with glasses or contact lenses.
As youth return to increased school-year and recreational activities that carry a risk of injury, the American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO) recognizes August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. In this article, the AAO outlines markers of normal vision development from early-life foundational growth to arrival at adolescence. As PCPs and specialists guide parents through their growing child’s eye health, the AAO emphasizes teaching those growing toward independence the importance of routine vision screenings and referrals for comprehensive eye exams over a lifetime.
First Year (Birth – 12 Months):
Parents should watch for milestones that track normal development of vision in a baby’s first year. Pediatricians check for indicators that a baby’s vision is developing as it should and will name a few eye problems that parents should never ignore in observing their baby’s fast-developing eyesight.
1) Newborn – 2 Months: Adjusting to light and learning to focus. The retina develops in the first two months, and central, up-close vision is developing. Babies this age can see light and dark ranges and patterns. They primarily take interest in objects very close to them, large shapes and bright colors.
2) Two-Four Months: The eyes of a two- to four-month-old baby are learning to work together and track a moving object as their visual coordination improves. Watch for inward- or outward-turning eyes and delays in tracking moving objects. Bring these concerns to a pediatrician’s attention.
3) Five – Eight Months: By this point of infancy, babies have developed 3D and color vision. Parents should watch for reaching, recognizing, and recalling an individual or object from across the room as indicative of normal vision development of vision.
4) Nine – 12 Months: By one year, babies judge distance very well. Indicators of eyesight development at this age include learning to walk and crawl aided by clear vision that enables babies to grip, grasp, and move in a straight direction.
5) Two – Six Years – After the foundational first 12-18 months, children approaching age two have established visual “accommodation” (adjusting to shifting distances / strong depth perception, tracking and convergence). Normal vision milestones at this stage include enhanced hand-eye coordination, improved visual memory (recalling visual memories), ability to read an eye chart, letter and object recognition and advancing reading skills. An early-age child with fully developed depth perception moves within their environment confidently and easily takes on interactive activities such as sports.
6) (Early Childhood – Adolescence) – As children enter early grade school and grow toward adolescence, routine screenings like reading eye charts are the most efficient means of regularly checking a child’s eye health through easily accessible well-check settings. Pediatricians, family practitioners, nurses and other trained providers are all qualified to conduct vision screenings.
Screenings that detect signs of abnormal or delayed eye development secure referrals to an eye specialist who can conduct a comprehensive exam to detect and diagnose an emerging eye disease or condition. Children develop at different rates, yet they will increasingly display developmental delays in vision as individuals. The AAO lists signs of vision problems to look for as children grow toward adolescence, including head tilting, blinking or squinting a lot, or avoiding reading, any of which warrants scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with an individual.
Delaying critical screening and diagnostic eye care can lead to lasting, irreversible effects if an emerging eye condition isn’t addressed early as early as infancy. A wise addition to school year prep checklists is scheduling a vision screening with your child’s pediatrician or PCP, or at a community eye practice. If a screening has already identified abnormalities that necessitate further diagnostic evaluation by an eye specialist, referrals for a comprehensive eye exam can be made by calling UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020. If your child has had a comprehensive eye exam and corrective eyewear is needed, visit the UNC Optical Shop to work with our experienced team to be our experienced team, or call with questions at 984-974-2039.
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