Milestones in Infant Vision Development

Newborns: Color Vision and Focus

Newborn babies have relatively poor vision. They are very sensitive to bright light and the peripheral vision is more developed than the central vision.

Before 2 months of age, an infant is capable of focusing on objects both near and far, but not very well. It takes time for the eye muscles to learn how to avoid focusing "too close" or "too far away," but by 1 month, they should be able to briefly focus on an object.

An infant's color vision is not as sensitive as an adult's. It is hard to tell if newborns can distinguish colors because their eyes might be attracted by the brightness, the darkness, or the contrast of an object against its surroundings, and not by the color alone.

By 2 weeks, however, it's thought that a baby can see light and dark shapes and patterns. By 1 month, most babies can see bright colors.

2 to 3 Months: Eye Coordination

Most infants can focus accurately by 2 to 3 months of age. The ability to focus requires special eye muscles to change the shape of the lens to form clear images.

At this age, your baby's eyes may not work together all the time. Sometimes they may even look crossed. This should resolve by around the third month.

By 2 to 3 months of age, a baby will begin to notice and recognize faces.

3 to 6 Months: Tracking and Facial Recognition

A baby usually develops the ability to track and follow a slow-moving object by three months of age. Before this time, an infant will follow large, slow-moving objects with jerky motions and eye muscle movements. A 3-month-old can usually track an object quite smoothly. A baby should begin to follow moving objects with the eyes and reach for things at around 4 months of age.

Depth perception is the ability to judge objects that are nearer or farther than other objects. Depth perception is not present at birth. It is not until months 4 to 5 that the eyes are capable of working together to form a three-dimensional view of the world.

By 4 to 5 months, most babies can see clearly and can differentiate between their mother's face and a stranger's face.

Signs of Vision Problems in Infants

It is important to pay attention to how your baby uses their eyes. If you notice any of the following, be sure to talk to your child's pediatrician:

• Your baby is not tracking objects by 3 months.
• Your baby doesn't make and hold eye contact by 3 months.
• Your baby's eyes continue to look crossed or misaligned beyond 4 months.