Typical visual development

Question 1

What are the first colours that babies see?

Answer 1

Red, then green

Question 2

At around what age do children have a VA of around 6/12?

Answer 2

2 years

Question 3

When is contrast sensitivity poor until?

Answer 3

1 year old

Question 4

When do contrast sensitivity levels become close to adult levels?

Answer 4

5 years old

Question 5

When is emmetropisation largely complete by?

Answer 5

2 years old

Question 6

What happens to the distribution of refractive error in children as they age?

Answer 6

Largely hyperopic at birth
Variation reduces, narrowing immediately after birth.
Distribution widens at ~8 years (myopia onset).
Most older children have a low hyperopic rx.

Question 7

When does astigmatic emmetropisation last until?

Answer 7

~8 years old

Question 8

What type of astigmatism do most children have?

Answer 8

WTR until 2 years old
ATR over 2 years old

Question 9

What type of eye movements do very young infants use?

Answer 9

Saccades

Question 10

When do pursuit movements begin?

Answer 10

1 month old but only if target is slow moving (10 degrees/sec)

Question 11

At what age are saccades adult like?

Answer 11

5 years old

Question 12

At what age is smooth pursuit adult like?

Answer 12

7-10 years old