TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Eye Disorders of the Newborn A1 - Gomella, Tricia Lacy A1 - Eyal, Fabien G. A1 - Bany-Mohammed, Fayez Y1 - 2020 N1 - T2 - Gomella's Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases, and Drugs, 8e AB - Newborns are born with poor visual acuity, measuring 20/600 at birth, which then improves to 20/120 by 3 months and to 20/60 by 6 months of age. Binocularity begins developing by 3 to 4 months of age, and the ability to distinguish color begins at 5 months. The visual system does not reach maturity until 9 to 10 years of age. The time of development and plasticity between birth and visual maturity is known as the critical period, the time during which proper vision must develop in order to have normal visual acuity and binocular vision. Alterations or impediments to the image projected onto the retina profoundly affect visual development and can lead to vision-threatening and blinding diseases. It is, therefore, essential to identify such degradations early to prevent poor visual outcomes. Most vision loss is preventable or reversible with the right intervention for the individual etiology. The recovery depends on the maturity of the visual connections, the length of deprivation, and the age at which therapy is begun. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1168357617 ER -