Signs Your Baby May Need Glasses

Many new parents have questions as to how well their baby can see. This is normal. However, there are a few signs that you should be watching out for that could indicate that your baby needs glasses. It is important to make sure that your child has an appointment with an eye doctor if you notice any of these signs. Also, please note that the indicators of a vision problem are dependent on how old your child is. When a baby is born their vision is just beginning to develop. It takes about a year for them to develop 20/20 vision. A newborn baby cannot see much more than things that are about a foot from their face, which is why they usually only recognize their mom or dad's face for the first while.

Beyond a month old, you should be watching out for some signs that could indicate there is a problem with your child's visual development.

Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)

Strabismus is when the eyes of your child may appear to be crossed or misaligned. Both eyes could appear to be pointing inward, or one eye could be pointed inward, up, or down. Some parents become prematurely worried that their child may have crossed eyes when in reality it just takes a few months for the eyes to figure out how to work together. It is totally normal for babies to appear to have strabismus for up to four or five months. If you notice your child's eyes cross frequently after five months you should take them to see their doctor. Most doctors choose to treat strabismus with corrective lenses. 

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia is when one of your child's eyes kind of veers out of focus. This disorder can actually be caused by strabismus since one eye will be more dominant and the other will become weaker, eventually not focusing much at all. A lazy eye can be cured in several different ways including corrective lenses or an eye patch. Covering the stronger eye will force the weaker eye to become stronger, teaching it to focus and work hard. While some children may be born with amblyopia, it cannot be definitively diagnosed until after six months of age. 

Constant Eye Turning

If your child seems to be constantly looking in all directions, it may be that their muscles do not have control of their eyes. Weakened optical muscles can be a challenge that can be overcome with glasses. 

Talk to your child's pediatrician to see if they feel you need to see an eye doctor. When you are unsure of whether or not they should be seen, most professionals would tell you to be safe rather than sorry.

Share