According to vision experts, the following age-based vision milestones provide a basic guideline for parents to know what to expect throughout their child's development. Remember that each child is unique and may reach milestones at different ages, so it's important to always consult with an eye care professional.

Birth to 1 month

• Blinks in response to bright light
• Uncoordinated eye movements— may appear "crossed-eyed"
• Ability to stare at an object 8-10 inches away
• Stares at light or face
• Begins to track or follow moving objects

1 to 2 months

• Clear vision only for objects 10-12 inches away
• Stares at faces and black-and-white images
• Follows an object up to 90 degrees
• Watches parent closely
• Begins to develop tears

2 to 3 months

• Begins to notice familiar objects up to 12 inches away
• Examines own hands
• Follows faces, objects, and light

4 to 5 months

• Begins to reach for nearby objects, such as a hanging mobile
• Recognizes objects such as a bottle or pacifier
• Looks at self in the mirror

5 to 7 months

• Develops full-color vision
• Ability to see images and objects from a few feet away
• Turns head to view objects
• Favors certain colors
• Touches mirror image of self

7 to 12 months

• Development of independent eye movements
• Sees smaller objects
• Development of depth perception
• Crawls to reach distant objects
• Plays peek-a-boo
• Watches and follows fast-moving objects

12 to 18 months (1 to 1.5 years)

• Clear distance vision
• Depth perception for objects further than 2 feet away
• Refinement of eye movements
• Recognizes images of familiar objects
• Walks to interact with interesting items
• Recognizes self in mirror

18 to 24 months (1.5 to 2 years)

• Begins to focus on objects closer than 2 feet
• Clear distance vision
• Development of fine motor skills
• Colors with crayons— attempting to draw straight lines or circles
• Identifies body parts —mouth, eyes, and hair, etc.

24 to 36 months (2 to 3 years)

• Improvement of close vision skills: convergence and focusing
• Development of binocular vision at all distances
• Can change focus from distance to near
• Improvement of depth perception
• Uses focusing to recognize shapes and objects

36 to 48 months (preschool)

• Distance vision nearing 20/20
• Clear and single vision up to a few inches from the face
• Development of gross-motor coordination
• Recognizes complex visual shapes and letters
• Identifies colors

48 to 72 months (school)

• Knows letters and some words
• Recognizes orientation of letters
• Begins reading
• Possesses a matured sense of depth perception
• Clear, single, and comfortable vision at all distances

*SOURCE: www.optometrists.org