Recognising Early Warning Signs Of Eye Strain And Vision Issues In Infants: A Parent's Guide

{By: Dr Digvijay Singh}

Eye care is really important for your child’s well being and as parents, it is our duty to take care of their eye health, however, most of the parents tend to neglect this. Older children can talk about pain that they may have but the infant's attention needs to be shifted by the parents themselves to understand the discomfort. If identified at an early age, certain signs such as eye strain or any kind of vision issues can be averted to avoid severe long term vision damage to the child in the future.  

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Understanding Infant Eye Development 

Within the first year of their life, an infant’s eye development accelerates. Right from birth a baby is only able to see objects up to 8 to 10 inches away. However, by the time a baby grows up to 6 months, they should be able to follow moving objects, recognize familiar faces and have slight depth perception. Any deviation from these milestones could signal a potential vision problem.  

Common Vision Issues In Children Below 6 Years Of Age 

Some of the conditions that can impair vision of an infant includes:  

  • Refractive Errors: Minor to severe myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) are common refractive errors that are detected later on.
  • Strabismus: Crossed eyes is an eye imbalance which can cause amblyopia, sometimes known as a lazy eye, If cross-eyes is not treated fully.
  • Amblyopia: This refers to an eyepatch that has a reduced vision preferably 3 out of 2 eyes.
  • Congenital Cataracts: This refers to an eye lens that has at birth shown signs of fainting which makes vision odd.

Early Signs Parents Shouldn't Ignore

Parents should look out for the following signs since they indicate any early sign of concern and an assessment needs to be sought. 

  • A child showing no eye contact with a caregiver by 3 months of age.
  • A child above 4 months age should be able to make eye movement following an object hence failure to do so signifies a need for assessment.
  • Permanently cross or drifting of the eyes after the age of four months is also an indicator.
  • Rubbing or covering of the eyes can be a sign of discomfort along the eyes indicating the need for child assessment.
  • If the child shows excessive squinting or turning away from bright light events can also be an indicator.
  • A white or cloudy pupil can signal the presence of serious diseases such as cataracts or retinoblastoma

There are chances that children might grow up to have visual impairment, but with timely diagnosis, proper intervention techniques can be applied to prevent the impairment from progressing. It is also recommended that parents ensure a healthy visual environment for the child along with proper lighting and a minimal amount of screen time.

The importance of vision in the world of infants cannot be stressed enough as it lays the groundwork on which their future cognitive capabilities as well as motor skills will be built around. Parents can save their newborn’s vision by being attentive and recognizing the early red flags and warning signs that the infant is portraying. In case your infant shows any indication of concern that was mentioned above or fears related to eye health, considerations among retina specialists and pediatric ophthalmologists should be taken on priority basis. Steps taken in an early stage make a monumental difference in the overall health condition of a child.

The author, Dr Digvijay Singh, is the Director at Noble Eye Care, Gurugram

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]

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