By Dr. Ryan W. Nelson

A baby’s first eye exam is essential to rule out congenital cataracts and other neonatal eye conditions.  If these problems are not detected soon after birth, vision will not develop properly.  The eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare  recommend that even if no eye or vision problems are apparent, at about age 6 months, you should take your baby to your doctor of optometry for his or her first thorough eye examination.

All newborn babies have poor vision, about 20/400 (the top letter on the eye chart).  Color vision, visual details, eye movement skills and depth perception, improve during the first few months of life.

The American Optometric Association and the doctors at Iowa EyeCare agree that parents should watch for signs of eye or vision problems and engage their child in age-appropriate visual activities:

There are many things parents can do to help their baby’s vision develop properly. The following are some examples of age-appropriate activities that can assist an infant’s visual development.

Birth to four months

• Use a nightlight or other dim lamp in your baby’s room.
• Change the crib’s position frequently and change your child’s position in it.
• Keep reach-and-touch toys within your baby’s focus, about eight to twelve inches.
• Talk to your baby as you walk around the room.
• Alternate right and left sides with each feeding.

Five to eight months

• Give the baby plenty of time to play and explore on the floor.
• Provide plastic or wooden blocks that can be held in the hands.
• Play patty cake and other games, moving the baby’s hands through the motions while saying the words aloud.

Nine to twelve months

• Play hide and seek games with toys or your face to help the baby develop visual memory.
• Name objects when talking to encourage the baby’s word association and vocabulary development skills.
• Encourage crawling and creeping.

One to two years

• Roll a ball back and forth to help the child track objects with the eyes visually.
• Give the child building blocks and balls of all shapes and sizes to play with to boost fine motor skills and small muscle development.
• Read or tell stories to stimulate the child’s ability to visualize and pave the way for learning and reading skills.

If you have additional questions or concerns regarding your newborn, contact the eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare now.  Our phone number is 319-377-2222.  We have office locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa.