A baby’s brain develops quickly, and if there are any vision problems, they should be detected in the first three or four months of life. Babies must learn to see, just as they learn to crawl and walk. For the child to develop with normal vision, the brain needs to be getting clear vision messages from both eyes.

When a baby is born, it is examined for any eye infections, which can sometimes be spread from the mother’s birth canal. It is also examined for abnormal reactions to light, for cataracts, and any other eye disorders. All this is done as part of the routine care of a newborn.

Early Signs to Look For

Although most babies are born with healthy eyes and learn to use them without a problem, sometimes there are early symptoms a parent can catch. If you see any of these signs, contact your pediatrician or eye doctor:

• Watery eyes – could indicate blocked tear ducts
  

• Crusty or red eyelids – could indicate an infection

• Extreme light sensitivity – could indicate overly high intraocular pressure
  

• A white-colored pupil – can indicate eye cancer
  

• One eye often turning – could indicate a problem with eye muscle control (strabismus)

Vision Screening Recommendations

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends these childhood eye exams:

• Infants at high risk, such as those with the potential for retinopathy of prematurity and those with a family history of retinoblastoma, childhood cataracts, childhood glaucoma, or metabolic and genetic disease, should have a examination by an ophthalmologist as soon as medically feasible.
  

• Six months – during the well baby visits, the eyes should be checked for how well they are working together, so as to detect any early strabismus (eyes pointing in two different directions).
  

• Three to four years – complete eye exams should be performed along with visual acuity tests to detect any nearsightedness (or possibly farsightedness) early. The pediatrician or other health care provider can perform this assessment and refer to the ophthalmologist if necessary.
  

• Five years and going forward – regular vision screening tests every one to two years should be done during primary health care visits, in schools, or at public screenings.
  

 School-Age Vision

The primary concern among school age children is the unrecognized development of either nearsightedness or farsightedness. All school age children should have their vision evaluated regularly during primary health care visits, in schools or at public screenings. This screening is to determined how well the child is seeing as well as the alignment of their eyes.

School-age vision tests are for visual acuity and eye alignment, but a child with clear vision might still have other vision problems. Therefore if you notice any apparent vision troubles, regardless of school vision test results, take your child for a thorough eye exam. Some symptoms to watch for throughout school ages are:

• Excessive eye rubbing or blinking
  

• Covering one eye or tilting the head sideways
  

• Headaches
  

• Holding the face very close to books and papers
  

• A short attention span

• Reluctance to read
  

• Trouble remembering what has been read

Our pediatric ophthalmologists are:

            Stephen A. Daugherty, MD

            Charles F. Marshall, MD

 
If your child appears to have some type of vision problem, please do not hesitate to make an appointment at our office for a thorough eye exam. Our office serves the entire Charlotte, N.C. area.