Do newborn babies have normal vision? What are the symptoms to look out for in infants?
Newborn babies are born Hypermetropic long sighted. They have a power defect of upto +2.50. This is because their eyeballs are small and grow longer only over a period of time. Although structural growth is significant in the first 3 years after birth, a functional vision of 6/6 is attained only around the age of 6 years. Colour vision too develops only around the age of 6 months. Any discharge or watering from the eyes within a month of birth is pathological, as tears are not produced at such a yound age. Besides, any deviation of the eye, difference in size between the 2 eyes, as well as any white opacity in the central round area (cornea & Pupil) must be watched out for.
