"Child's" heart and "vision": the process of children's visual development

Author: Hao Rui, deputy chief physician of Tianjin Eye Hospital

Reviewer: Zhang Wei, Chief Physician of Tianjin Eye Hospital, Head of the Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Group of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

In the vast field of human perception, vision is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling senses. It is not only a bridge for us to communicate with the world, but also a bond between wisdom and emotion. The visual development of children is a wonderful journey from chaos to clarity, from fuzziness to precision. This journey not only highlights the miracle of life, but also profoundly affects the cognitive development, emotional expression and personality shaping of each child. From the tightly closed little eyes in the embryonic period to the bright eyes that gradually explore the world after birth, the visual development of children is a journey full of exploration and challenges. It is not only the physical growth process of the eyes, but also the embodiment of the complex interaction and coordinated development between the brain and the visual system. In this process, every subtle change contains huge potential, and every reception of visual stimulation is the shaping of the brain's cognitive network. Therefore, interpreting the process of children's visual development is not only a profound exploration of the mysteries of life, but also an important guide for children's education, health and future growth.

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1. The starting point of children's visual development: embryonic period

As early as the fourth week of pregnancy, the fetus's visual system begins to form. At this time, the fetus's eyes are still very small and are covered by a layer of cortex. As pregnancy progresses, key components such as the eye nerves, blood vessels, lens and retina gradually develop. By the end of the sixth month, the fetus's eyes have developed significantly, laying the foundation for visual development after birth.

2. The visual world of newborns

Although newborns have formed eyeballs, their vision is not fully developed. Newborns have limited vision and can only see objects within about 20 cm, and the images are relatively blurry. At this time, they can only perceive simple and strong light and colors, such as black and white, large blocks of color, or simple lines and graphics. Newborns have pupil light reflex and blink reflex, and can perceive objects moving in front of their eyes, but their tracking range is small.

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3. Continuation and improvement of children's visual development

During the development of children's vision, the growth trajectory of the visual system from blurry to clear, from imprecise to precise, profoundly affects each child's cognition and behavior. This process not only involves the physical growth of the eyes, but is also the result of complex interactions and synergies between the brain and the visual system.

1. 0 to 2 months: the early stage of visual development

As early as the fourth week of pregnancy, the fetus's visual system begins to form. After birth, the baby's vision is still at a very rudimentary stage. Newborns have pupil light response, but their gaze and tracking are unstable, their eye movements are irregular, and most newborns show exotropia, and less esotropia.

2.2-6 months: Rapid visual development

During this period, the baby's saccadic movements gradually develop and become more complete, and the eyes begin to accurately follow moving objects. At 4 months, the baby begins to have appropriate regulatory responses to sight marks, has the accuracy of optokinetic nystagmus, and gradually develops stereoscopic vision. At this stage, the eye position is basically normal, and a few will still show exotropia. If esotropia occurs, it is an abnormal phenomenon and requires early intervention.

3. 6 months to 2 years old: gradually approaching adult level

The visual system of infants continues to develop rapidly between 6 months and 2 years old. They have the ability of accurate central fixation and smooth tracking, and their eye movement control is more stable, and their eye position is basically maintained in the right position. The visual development during this period lays the foundation for the formation of children's cognition and hand-eye coordination ability.

4. 3-4 years old: Stereoscopic vision and improved visual acuity

At this stage, children's vision level can reach about 0.5, stereoscopic vision is further improved, and they can clearly perceive the spatial position, distance and depth of objects. At this time, the coordination function of the two eyes is more precise, and the difference in vision between the two eyes does not exceed two lines.

5-7 years old: visual acuity close to adult standard

By the age of 5, children's vision generally reaches 0.6-0.7, and the difference between the two eyes is kept within two lines. At the age of 6-7, children's vision further improves to 0.7-1.0, and visual development tends to be stable.

8-9 years old: Visual development is complete

At the age of 8 to 9, children's vision development is complete and reaches a mature stage. If problems such as amblyopia or lack of stereoscopic vision still exist at this stage, the difficulty of correction will increase significantly. Therefore, parents should pay close attention to their children's vision development and intervene in time for any abnormalities.

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Through this systematic development process, children's vision not only opens a window for them to explore the world, but also lays an important foundation for future learning, cognitive and behavioral development. Visual changes at each stage have a profound impact on children's lives and growth. Understanding and monitoring these key stages can help promote the healthy growth of children.

Looking back at the development of children's vision, we can't help but be impressed by the magic and greatness of life. From the initial hazy vision to the later clear world, children's eyes not only witness the colorful and beautiful world, but also continue to grow and mature in this process. The development of vision not only opens the door to the cognitive world for them, but also lays a solid foundation for their learning, life and future development. Let us work together to create a future vision full of love and light for children, so that they can bravely explore the unknown, pursue their dreams and achieve extraordinary achievements under the guidance of vision.