Eye examination in infants is performed by dilating the pupil and examining the anterior and posterior eye sections with the help of devices.

The first eye examination in a baby must be performed by an ophthalmologist in the newborn period. In this period, it is essential for the healthy development of vision that the path that the light, which we call the visual axis, follows to the visual layer behind the eye after entering the eye, is clear. Determining whether this path is anatomically clear and determining that all intraocular structures are anatomically normal is the basis of the newborn eye examination. Congenital drooping of the eyelid (congenital ptosis), mass formations that prevent the opening of the eyelid, congenital disorders of the transparent layer called the cornea, congenital cataracts, congenital diseases of the visual layer of the eye called the retina and the visual nerve (optic nerve), congenital high eye pressure are conditions that should be detected early in this period. The first examination should be performed by dilating the pupils of the baby with drops in order to perform a healthy newborn eye examination and to prevent congenital structural problems from being missed.

The second eye examination of the baby should be performed in the 6-8 month period and it should be evaluated whether the eyes move in coordination, the baby’s focusing and tracking of objects. The main purpose of the examination in this period is to have an idea about whether the baby’s visual function is developing in accordance with his/her age. The presence of strabismus in the eyes during this period will both prevent the development of depth perception and lead to laziness in later life as a result of the sliding eye not learning to focus and see. Early detection and treatment of strabismus is important in preventing vision loss. The presence of undetected refractive errors results in the inability of the eye to learn to see and the eye to remain lazy as a result of incomplete development of visual acuity. In every examination, the retina layer behind the eye should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist in terms of early childhood diseases.

October 2024