site.site_name : Rafed English
Your baby's eyes
Key points to remember
- seek medical advice if you have any concerns about your child’s eyes
How do we see things?
Light enters the eye through the cornea, the clear outer skin or window at the front of the eye. It passes through the pupil, the hole in the iris or coloured part of the eye. Light rays are then focused on the retina at the back of the eye. Information about the light travels from the retina to the brain where the pictures are recognised and interpreted.
At birth
- are attracted to faces
- may avoid bright lights by closing eyes
- eyes may sometimes appear to wander or be turned
At one month
- start to fix on mother's face whilst feeding
- intermittent turn in eyes
- follow large moving objects for a few seconds and begin to show interest in toys
At two months
- more interested in toys and objects
- follow a person with their eyes
- recognise parent’s face and can tell it from other faces
At four months
- can focus on toys held close to them
- eyes should be straight and move together in all directions
- interested in smaller more detailed toys
- reaches for toys, grasps firmly and regards closely
At six months
- become more skilled in using their eyes to locate and reach objects of interest
- follow objects with head and eyes in all directions
- visually alert and curious about their surroundings
- follows an adult’s movement across the room
At twelve months
- recognise familiar people from at least six metres (20 feet) away
- binocular vision (the ability to use the eyes together) established at nine months