From Light and Dark to Colors and Shapes: When Do Newborns Start to See?

As soon as a baby is born, their senses start to develop rapidly. One of the most important senses for human beings is vision. But when do newborns start to see, and what can they see?






According to research, newborns have some level of visual perception from the moment they are born. While their eyes may not be fully developed, they are able to detect light and dark, as well as some basic shapes and patterns.

In fact, studies have shown that even in the first few days of life, newborns can differentiate between different shapes, such as circles and squares, as well as patterns such as stripes and dots. They are also able to detect movement, although their ability to track moving objects is limited.

As the weeks go by, newborns' visual perception continues to develop rapidly. They become more adept at tracking moving objects and are able to focus on objects at different distances. By around two months of age, most babies are able to focus on and follow a moving object with their eyes.


It's important to note, however, that newborns' visual acuity is still relatively poor. In other words, they are not able to see with the same clarity as adults. While adults can see objects clearly from a distance of around 20 feet, newborns can only see objects clearly when they are around 8 to 10 inches away.

Despite this, newborns are still able to see and process a surprising amount of visual information. They are able to differentiate between colors, although their ability to perceive different shades of color is still developing. They are also able to recognize faces and even prefer to look at faces over other objects.


In conclusion, newborns start to see from the moment they are born, although their visual acuity is still developing. They are able to detect basic shapes and patterns, track moving objects, and differentiate between colors. As they continue to grow and develop, their visual perception will become more refined, allowing them to see the world around them with greater clarity and detail.


References:


  1. Atkinson, J., & Braddick, O. (2012). Visual development throughout infancy. Oxford University Press.
  2. Maurer, D., & Lewis, T. L. (2018). Development of the human visual system. In Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Vol. 155, pp. 187-207). Elsevier.
  3. Slater, A. M., Johnson, S. P., & Brown, E. (2019). Visual perception from birth: The beginnings of knowledge. Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Zeyad Zaben


Optometrista; Spain
Location: 08500 Vic, Barcelona, Spain

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