Vision development

Vision development in children

A child’s vision develops primarily from new-born to six years of age. Factors such as crossed eyes or impaired vision as a result of eye disorders etc. can adversely impact their vision development. For this reason, children’s vision is always assessed by GPs at general paediatric examinations as early intervention is, in many cases, decisive for the future quality of eyesight. It is important that parents are also aware of how to spot the signs that indicate impaired vision, so they are able to influence the problem in a positive direction, as early as possible.
 

Vision stimulation

In order for the child’s vision to develop appropriately, light needs to enter the eye during the first months of life, since this activates the part of the brain that can process light information. If light does not enter the eye for the first three months of the baby’s life, this part of the brain shuts down and will not be able to learn to process light information in the future.
 
It is also important that the child sees contrasts, when learning to see
 

Suspect problems with vision?

On the page ’Does my child need glasses?’ you can find a list of things that parents should be aware of if they want to be able to catch the possible signs of vision impairment early on.
 

Vision development milestones in children

Below the key milestones in terms of a child’s vision development are illustrated – snipped from The Danish Eye Association’s ‘brochure’.
 
Baby ligger og kigger på aktivitetsbog. Synsudvikling hos børn.

Two months:
Your child ought to be completely comfortable with eye contact and ought to be able to stay focused on your face for a while, as well as follow it when you move.

Baby ligger på et aktivitetstæppe. Synsudvikling hos børn.

Four months:
The child has been wanting to use their hands for a while. They can look down at their hands, lift them up, and put them in their mouth. They are beginning to grab things haphazardly, such as objects, which you hold in front of them.

Glad baby. Synsudvikling hos børn.

Six months:
The eye movements are developing well, and the eyes follow without problem, when you move a toy about in front of the child. The child can move things from one hand to the other. The child also recognises faces, such as mum’s, dad’s, and siblings.

Pige, der sidder med blomster. Synsudvikling hos børn.

12 months:
The eye strength in both eyes has now developed well. The child finds pictures and drawings funny.

Pige leger med en traktor. Synsudvikling hos børn.

Two years:
The eyes, hands, and body coordinate with each other well. The child can pinpoint things with the same colour and shape, and identify pictures in a book, which you mention.

To drenge på 3-6 år. Synsudvikling hos børn.

Three to six years:
During these years in a child’s life, vision ability ought to become more and more certain. If you notice that your child’s eyesight is poor, then it is still possible through vision therapy to train the eye. But the older the child is, the more difficult it becomes to get a good result. When your child is six years old, their eyesight is almost completely developed.