Delayed Visual Maturity

[geminize]

Hi - i have a 10 week old boy who I have taken to see an Opthalmologist as I didn't think he was focusing.  The verdict is his pupils are dilating and reacting to light, his retina and optics are all intact and his eyes do not wobble with the twist and stop test which the consultant told me was all very encouraging coupled with the fact that his apgar scores at birth were 9 the first few seconds he was born then 10 the following few mintues he was born.

He mention delayed visual maturity, as my son was born 2 weeks early - he was a failed ventouse/forceps delivery it was a traumatic birth for both me and baby which the consultants says hasn't helped.

He does look at me sometimes and smiles and gugrles, he looks at his mobile and follows it with his eyes.  He tends to look up at the ceiling a lot and towards any sort of light.  My initial worry was that he could not see but I have been reasurred he can.  I am hoping he will start focusing more on my face in the next few weeks and would just like to know if this is likely to be the case and would more visual stimulation help his progression?

Many thanks for your help
Zoe

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Yes, Visual stimulation is always good for developing babies.  As far as I can gather from what you have said, there is no reason to believe there is anything wrong with his visual development other than your possible intuition and observations.  The fact that the eyes looks mostly normal is a good sign.  Hopefully everything will turn out just fine.  Keep your follow up appointment with the pediatric ophthalmologist.

Michael Kutryb, MD
Kutryb Eye Institute
Titusville, FL

[geminize]

Many, many, many thanks for your reply - it has really boosted my positive thoughts!  I have been so worried about my baby's developing vision, I felt reasurred after seeing the opthalmologist and now even more reasurred from your post.  Since seeing the opthalmologist my baby has started to look at us more, however, I have now made a huge effort to stimulate him more with his vision and am constantly talking to him, showing him toys, clapping hands etc etc... I'm sure this has had an impact on his development over the last 3 days!

Thanks again, am keeping my fingers tightly crossed he will be ok :o)

Regards
Zoe