Vision Development in Children

Here are some helpful resources to learn more about vision development:

1. The infantSEE program is a national public health service where a doctor of optometry (OD) performs a no-cost vision assessment of babies between ages of 6-12 months of age. The infantSEE program has great information for parents on their website: infantsee.org
   
2. The American Optometric Association (AOA) has guidelines for testing and treatment of our little pediatric patients.  Do you know the first eye examination should take place between ages 6-12 months and the second at age 3? The AOA Parents Center is packed with information. To learn about vision from birth to age 24 months, visit AOA Infant Vision.
   
3. To learn more about preschool vision development, visit AOA Preschool Vision
4. Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, a personal friend and colleague blogged about her granddaughter Edina's Visual development at each age and stage. This great series includes videos, milestones, and observations. Learn more here: https://www.lynnhellerstein.com/category/vision-development-through-edinas-eyes/
   
5. All about Vision is a helpful website for families to learn more about children's vision: https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/infants.htm

I also highly recommend the following book for parents:

Active Baby, Healthy Brain: 135 Fun Exercises and Activities to Maximize Your Child's Brain Development from Birth Through Age 5 by Margaret Sassé

What does a baby see?

Reference: https://lasermom.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/infant-vision-research/

Symptoms of refractive errors vary per individual and may include: - headache - fatigue - eye strain - squinting - blurred or distorted images, up close and/or in the distance

My colleague Sarah Lane, OD, FCOVD has some great videos on helping your child's sensory (sight, touch, balance, pressure, hearing) and motor (movement of the body) systems development here:

Up and Down

Side to Side

I have hands

• Dr. Jen Simonson, April 2020