It is often difficult to tell if a baby is having trouble seeing in the first few months of life. Since a newborn's visual acuity isn't yet highly developed, parents could confuse normal newborn vision with visual impairment. However, by the time the baby is about 6 months of age parents will be able to note several signs of potential vision problems in their child.
Trouble Tracking
One early sign that your baby may have a visual impairment is if she has difficulty or is unable to track objects in her field of vision. You can test your baby's visual tracking ability by slowly moving an object in front of her from left to right, up and down and in a circular motion. Watch to see if her eyes follow the object. It is important to note that babies do not master visual tracking until about 3 months of age, so don't worry if she doesn't always successfully track objects before then.
Strong Preference for Contrasting Colors
A newborn's visual acuity is nowhere near that of an adults--it is around 20/400, according to pediatrician Dr. Jeffrey Hull. It is therefore normal for newborns to prefer looking at contrasting colors, as they are easier to see. However, if your child is 6 months old and is still showing a strong preference for contrasting colors, it could be a sign of a vision problem. You may note this preference if your child seems to look at and be interested in objects with sharply contrasted colors, and shows less interest in objects without contrast.
Abnormal Eye Appearance
When a baby is first born, he receives a full body exam, which includes an examination of his eyes. While most structural problems will be present at birth, you should contact your pediatrician if you notice any abnormalities develop. These could include bulging eyes, redness that doesn't seem to go away, discoloration of the pupil or iris or a drooped eyelid. If you are ever unsure about the health of your child's eyes, don't hesitate to call the doctor.
Delayed Hand-Eye Coordination
By about 6 months of age, a baby should be able to reach for and grasp objects with some accuracy. While babies won't hit the mark every time, if your child is consistently unable to grasp objects that she is reaching for, it may be a sign of visual impairment. Also, if your child doesn't seem interested in reaching for objects at all, she could be having trouble seeing.
