Red Flags Bermuda
EARLY INTERVENTION
BIRTH TO AGE SIX

Growth & Development
Vision
A great deal of a child’s early learning occurs through vision.
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Children who are born with (or acquire in early childhood) blindness or low vision are at a greater risk for developmental delays and communicative disorders.
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Children born with poor vision do not know what “normal vision” is like.
They often think that everyone sees the same way that they do.
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Not waiting for your child to tell you that they have a vision problem. It is important to monitor a child’s visual development . Early identification can often reduce or eliminate the risk of long-term complications.
Recommended frequency for children’s eye examinations: First eye exam between 6 and 9 months of age, and then annually or as recommended by the optometrist.
Healthy Child Development
There are several stages of healthy vision development that are marked by key abilities.
By 6 weeks
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Stares at surroundings when awake
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Briefly looks at bright lights/objects
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Blinks in response to light
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Eyes and head move together
By 3 months
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Eyes glance from one object to another
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Eyes follow a moving object or person
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Stares at a caregiver's face
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Begins to look at hands and food
By 6 months
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Eyes move to inspect surroundings
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Reaches/graps for objects
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Looks at more distant objects
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Smiles and laughs when they see you smile and laugh
By 12 months
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Eyes turn inward as objects move close to the nose
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Watches activities in surroundings for longer time periods
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Looks for a dropped toy
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Visually inspects objects and people
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Creeps towards favourite toy
By 2 years
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Uses vision to guide reaching and grasping
for objects -
Looks at simple pictures in a book
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Points to objects or people
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Looks for and points to pictures in books
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Looks where they are going when walking and climbing
2-3 years
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Sits a normal distance when watching television
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Follows moving objects with both eyes working together (coordinated)
3-4 years
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Knows people from a distance (across the street)
4-5 years
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Holds a book at a normal distance
... If a child is missing one or more of these expected age outcomes, consider this a red flag
Problem
Signs
If a child is experiencing any of the following, consider this a red flag:
► Blinking and/or rubbing eyes often; a lot of tearing or eye-rubbing
► Swollen or encrusted eyelids
► Bumps, sores or sties on or around the eyelids
► Drooping eyelids
► Lack of eye contact by three months of age
► Does not watch or follow an object with the eyes by three months
► Haziness or whitish appearance inside the pupil
► Frequent “wiggling,” “drifting” or “jerky” eye movements; misalignment of the eyes (eye turns or crossing of eyes)
► Lack of co-ordinated eye movements
► Drifting of one eye when looking at objects
► Turning or tilting of the head when looking at objects
► Squinting, closing or covering of one eye when looking at objects
► Excessive tearing when not crying
► Excessive blinking or squinting
► Excessive rubbing or touching of the eyes
► Avoidance of, or sensitivity to, bright lights
These Practitioners and Agencies may be able to help