Checklist for Detection of Vision Problems

(Content revised 06/2019)

Characteristics of Baby's vision

Here are some of the signs of normal vision for you to look out for during your baby's first year:

From 1 week

  • Does your baby turn to diffuse light?
  • Does your baby stare at your face?

By 2 months

  • Does your baby look at you, follow your face if you move from side to side, and smile responsively back at you?
  • Do your baby's eyes move together?

By 6 months

  • Does your baby look around with interest?
  • Does your baby try to reach out for small objects?
  • Do you think your baby has a squint? Squint is now definitely abnormal, however slight and temporary.

By 9 months

  • Does your baby poke and rake very small objects such as crumbs or 'hundreds and thousands' cake decorations with fingers?

By 12 months

  • Does your baby point to things to demand?
  • Does your baby recognise people she knows from across the room, before they speak to her/him?

If at any time you suspect that your baby's vision is not normal, either because you cannot answer 'Yes' to any of the items above or you suspect a squint, seek advice from your health visitor or general practitioner.

Reproduced from the Checklist for Detection of Vision Problem. Mary D Sheridan From Birth to Five Years: Children's Developmental Progress. Edition revised and updated by Marion Frost & Ajay Sharma. (London: Routledge 1997), Appendix II. Permission to use granted by International Thomson Publishing Services Ltd.

Warning Signs of Eye Diseases in Infants and Young Children

Eye and vision problems in infants are rare but may impair the development of vision and eyes, as well as their health. If the baby's eyes have the following sign, parents should consult doctors as soon as possible

  • Light, mobiles or other distractions do not catch babies' attention
  • Eyes that are misaligned (look crossed, turn out, or are not in the same level)
  • Eye(s) cannot stare at or follow an object or people
  • Eyes tremble
  • Pupil looks white or grayish-white (also called leukocoria)
  • Unequal pupil size
  • Eyes look different from others, e.g Droopy or swollen eyelid(s), protruding or bulging eyes etc.
  • Redness and discharge in either eye that doesn't go away in a few days
  • Eyes are always overly sensitive to light or watery
  • Consistent head tilt
  • Always rub or squeeze eyes

What is Leukocoria?

  • Leukocoria means “white pupil”. The pupil is white rather than the usual black in direct observation or on photographs. It is a symptom of serious eye disease including congenital cataract, retinoblastoma which is commonly known as eye cancer, retinopathy of prematurity, etc.
  • Consult a doctor as soon as possible if the pupil of your baby does not look normal.
  • You can learn more about this condition on the following webpage: