Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: smart on 16/08/2017 22:43:16

Title: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: smart on 16/08/2017 22:43:16

Hi,

My sister had her second baby. She's 3 weeks old. The doctor says she might be blind as she doesn't seem to follow objects. Is it possible that vision is not yet functional? How can we stimulate retinal neurogenesis to promote vision?

What do you think?

Title: Re: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: evan_au on 17/08/2017 11:46:28

I'm sorry to hear that. :(

Title: Re: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: smart on 17/08/2017 12:30:18

Quote from: evan_au on 17/08/2017 11:46:28

I'm sorry to hear that. :(

Thanks, Evan. We're not entirely sure she's blind; it is just a preliminary hypothesis claimed by one doctor. She will need to have a deeper examination to confirm the diagnostic. Also, we don't know yet at what time exactly vision should have become functional.

Best Regards

tkadm30

 

Title: Re: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: Colin2B on 17/08/2017 16:50:07

Quote from: tkadm30 on 17/08/2017 12:30:18

Also, we don't know yet at what time exactly vision should have become functional.
 

Vision is present before birth. Although newborns have a very fuzzy view (they can only focus out to 20-30cm) they will look towards lights and movement. They will also blink if there is a sudden bright light.
It will take about a month before they can fix on an object so initially the eyes might appear to wander and they won't follow an object eg toy.


I don't know if stimulation might help, but unless a light is intense it is unlikely to do harm. You might try switching on/off a flashlight just off centre of gaze, you could also try different colours.
When my wife did her paediatrics rotation she used to tell parents not to take too much notice of standard milestones as there is a wide std deviation.
Although you would expect a reaction at 3 weeks there could be a lot of reasons why not including weak eye muscles.
I hope the more detailed examination brings good news.

Title: Re: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: chris on 17/08/2017 19:55:00

Sorry to hear you news.

I wrote this piece earlier this year about babies being able to recognise face-like shapes while in the womb (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/science-news/human-foetuses-look-face-patterns).

The background information supplied in the article might prove helpful.

Title: Re: At what age does vision become functional?
Post by: smart on 20/10/2017 00:18:54

She's now 2 months old and smiling at people faces! :D