Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Great Plains Vision Center

(580) 256-6699

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
  • Eyecare Services
    • Eye & Vision Exams
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Post Op Lasik Management
    • Hard to Fit Contacts
    • Vision Therapy FAQs
    • Computer Vision
    • Sports Vision
    • Sunglasses
  • Frame Selection
  • Payment Options
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Community Content
    • Common Eye Conditions
      • Age-Related
      • Cognitive and Acquired
      • Vision Impairment
      • Injury & Irritation
      • Eye Lids
      • Changes in Appearance
    • Contact Lenses
    • Eye Diseases
    • Eyeglasses
      • Eyeglass Lenses
    • Eye Symptoms
    • How the Eyes Work
      • Basic Visual Skills
    • Pediatric Vision
    • Protecting Your Eyes
    • Visual Rehabilitation
    • Vision Problems
    • What is Vision Therapy
    • Vision Therapy Programs
    • We Can Help With
      • Cataracts
      • Corneal Disorders
        • Disorders
      • Glaucoma
      • Refractive Disorders
      • Adult Strabismus
      • Retinal Disorders
    • Newsletters
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Contacts
      • Tips for Healthy Eyes
      • Conditions That Affect Vision
      • Kid's Vision
      • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
      • Medical Perspectives
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletters >
  • The Development of Your Child’s Eyes (Each stage outlined from infancy to adulthood)

The Development of Your Child’s Eyes (Each stage outlined from infancy to adulthood)

  • Created in Newsletters
Baby with blue eyes

How Your Child's Eyes Develop

Vision changes drastically in the first months of your child's life. Although the world looks a little hazy to a newborn, a baby's eyesight begins to sharpen in just a few weeks. As your child grows, improvements in visual ability continue to occur.

The First Two Months

Although your newborn can focus on your face when you hold him or her close to you, people and objects more than a foot away will look blurry. Color vision isn't fully developed at birth but will improve in just a few weeks. Black and white objects or deeply contrasting color combinations are particularly appealing to babies for this reason.

As the weeks go by, focusing ability rapidly improves. Eye teaming, the ability to coordinate the movements of both eyes when looking at an object, will become stronger during the first two months. Until it does, your baby's eyes may occasionally drift off in different directions. This is perfectly normal and isn't a cause for concern unless it occurs longer than four months.

Months Three to Four

Your baby's world has rapidly expanded, thanks to the newfound ability to see objects in the distance clearly. Does your child's face light up when you walk into the room? Your baby can now recognize favorite people, pets, and toys.

During this stage, your baby will be able to track moving objects with his or her eyes, grab at a dangling toy or latch on to a strand of your hair with a surprisingly strong grip.

Months Five to Eight

As visual pathways between the brain and eyes become more developed, your child's vision will sharpen while focusing and tracking become second nature.

Although babies are born with 20/400 vision, vision improves to about 20/25 at about six months of age, according to All About Vision. Hand/eye coordination, color vision, depth perception and the ability to see in three dimensions develop and improve during this phase.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that babies receive their first eye examination between 6 to 12 months of age. This examination is particularly important, as it can identify issues that could have a long-term impact on your child's vision if untreated.

Months Nine to 12

Your baby's depth perception and ability to judge distance continue to improve, during months nine through 12. These skills are important when performing tasks that require good hand/eye coordination, such as throwing a ball. As your baby explores his or her environment by crawling and walking, hand-eye coordination will become even more refined.

The Toddler Through Preschool Years

Playing with toys, climbing a play structure, building towers with blocks, coloring, looking at books, and other activities strengthen your child's visual abilities and improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Matching games and simple puzzles not only help enhance your child's fine motor skills but also strengthen visual memory. Visual memory helps your child remember things he or she has seen and is an essential aspect of reading and writing.

Early Childhood Through the Teen Years

Refractive errors often develop during childhood or teen years, although they can also occur in younger children. The errors make it hard to see close or near objects clearly or read the numbers or letters on an eye chart. Difficulty seeing the board at school or trouble reading may be among the first signs that your child is nearsighted or farsighted and needs eyeglasses. Yearly eye examinations are important during this stage, as children aren't always aware that they have a vision problem.

Regular eye examinations help protect your child's eyesight. Is your child due for a visit to the eye doctor? Contact us to schedule a convenient appointment.

Sources:

American Optometric Association: Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age

American Academy of Ophthalmology: Refractive Errors in Children, 7/25/14

All About Vision: Your Infant’s Vision Development: What to Know

American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Screening for Children, 8/4/14

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Age-Related
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Eye Lids
    • Changes in Appearance
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
    • Eyeglass Lenses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Glasses & Frames
    • Contacts
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Kid's Vision
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Medical Perspectives

Patients receive 30% off a complete 2nd pair of glasses.

Featured Links

Click to find out more

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
  • Make An Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Great Plains Vision Center

Monday:

7:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday:

7:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday:

7:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday:

7:00am - 11:30pm, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonial

Reviews From Our Satisfied Patients

This practice offers superb service, knowledgeable staff, and the best lens technology available in the optical industry! 5 Star practice all the way around!

Angie M. / Woodward, OK

Featured Articles

Read up on informative topics

    June Newsletter: The Importance of Eye Exams for Kids

    Wondering if your should take your child to the eye doctor? ...

    Read More

    June Newsletter: Can Colored Contacts Help with Vision?

    Do you suffer from glare, eyestrain or color blindness? Wearing special contact lenses could help. ...

    Read More

    May Newsletter: All about Floaters

    Seeing floating cobwebs or strings? Find out why this vision phenomenon happens. ...

    Read More

    May Newsletter: What Flashes May Mean about Your Eye Health

    Could you have a vision problem if you see flashing lights? ...

    Read More

    April Newsletter: Corneal Abrasion Could Lead to Infection. See Your Eye Doctor!

    Has something scratched your eye? A visit to the eye doctor could help you avoid a serious infection. ...

    Read More

    April Newsletter: Tired of Contacts? Consider Orthokeratology.

    Wish you didn't have to wear your daily or monthly contact lenses? Orthokeratology can sharpen your vision. ...

    Read More

    March Newsletter: Are Your Eyes Getting Enough Vitamin D?

    Not getting enough of a key vitamin might increase your risk of several eye diseases. ...

    Read More

    March Newsletter: Is Your Prescription Up to Date? What You Need to Know about When and Why You should See Your Optometrist

    Not sure when you need to see the eye doctor? ...

    Read More

    Saccadic Fixators

    This entails a wall-mounted square board with a starburst design. Along the various striations of the starburst are lighted buttons. As the buttons light up, the patient works quickly to see how many of these lit buttons they can push before they go out. The key is to keep the head still. Peripheral ...

    Read More

    Patches

    Eye patches are used to strengthen muscle control in weak eyes. By placing a patch over the strong eye, the weaker eye is forced to do the heavy lifting. While it may be uncomfortable for the patient at first, the muscle controlling the weaker eye will become tougher and more resilient. This will allow ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up

Social Media

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map