•
Babies are unable to focus for the first six to eight weeks
because they do not have control of the muscles that enable
them to focus causing objects to remain blurry.
• By two months they
pay more attention to the face. By five months they recognise
the mothers face and distinguish it from all others.
• Research measuring
visual acuity in babies and toddlers found that the most
dramatic change occurs in the first eight months. The measurements
demonstrated that babies at one month, if they could read,
would be able to see the big ‘E’ on an eye testing
chart and by eight months their visual acuity is nearly
as good as normal adult acuity but does not reach the adult
level for several years.
• Babies find large black
and white patterns the most visible and attractive but they
can also distinguish much subtler shades of grey. In the
first month they can distinguish two shades of grey but
by two months this contrast sensitivity becomes ten times
better to become nearly as good as an adult’s sensitivity.
They are now able to distinguish the shadows that are unique
to their mother’s face.
• Studies have shown
that infants as young as two weeks have colour vision and
can distinguish between a red and green object matched for
brightness but their colour vision is unlikely to be as
sensitive as an adults because the receptors and nerves
in the eye are immature.
• Babies’ eye movements
and coordination are maturing over the first months of life
and are important for developing eye/hand coordination,
visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. For the first two
months their eyes are not well coordinated and wander and
appear crossed. This is normal but usually by three months
the baby’s eyes are very well coordinated. If after
this period the eyes continue to wander or turn in or out
it is important to consult a Doctor.
• Depth perception is
not present at birth and requires visual experience, good
muscle coordination of both eyes and maturity of the nerve
cells in the eye and the brain. Infants develop 3D vision
between three and five months of age.
Frances
Byatt-Smith RN RHV BA Psychology
