What are early cues that a baby may be visually impaired?
Vision impairment may be present if a baby: • Is not establishing eye contact by age two to three months • Lacks consistent visual tracking of slowly moving objects by age two to three months • Has eyes that do not move together (i.e., one eye wanders after about age six months) • Has jerky or rhythmic back and forth movements of the eyes • Has persistent tearing of an eye when not crying • Has persistent redness of the eye • Fails to reach for nearby objects by age five to six months It is very important to raise these concerns with the baby’s doctor, who should check the baby eyes and visual responses. If these concerns persist, a referral to an eye doctor who specializes in the care of children (a pediatric ophthalmologist) is best.
