The Signs of Eye Problems in Babies

Your baby can’t tell you when something’s wrong with their eyes. Their body language, eye movements, and reactions can. As a parent, you need to pay close attention to the small signs indicating potential eye problems. And what are these signs? You will learn in our article.

Understand what’s normal, what might signal a problem, and when to seek the help of an eye doctor.

Early Detection of Eye Problems in Babies Matters

A baby’s visual system is still developing in the first years of its life. If one or both eyes aren’t working well, the brain may stop using them at all. Most ocular problems with infants and babies are reversible and preventable. But only if you catch them on time.

What’s Normal in a Baby’s Vision?

That's the timeline of typical visual development in babies:

Age	Normal Visual Milestones
0-1 month	Blinks at bright lights, eyes may not move together
1–2 months	Starts to follow objects, brief eye contact
3–4 months	Tracks moving objects well, and begins to smile at faces
5–6 months	Reaches for objects accurately, follows you around the room
7–12 months	Looks at small objects, coordinated eye-hand movements

If your baby isn’t meeting these milestones, it’s worth consulting a pediatrician or an eye specialist. However, don't panic; just because the child isn't developing as quickly as an average child, it doesn't mean there's something wrong. Child development doesn't follow a strict schedule.

Signs of Possible Eye Problems in Babies

Knowing what’s not normal is the first step towards catching problems early. And then you can get your child the adequate care they need. The common signs your baby’s eyes might need a medical examination are:

1. Constant Eye Turning or Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)

It’s normal for newborns to have some eye misalignment in the first 2–3 months. Especially when they are tired. But if the eyes don’t move together or one eye always turns inward, outward, up, or down after 4 months of age, strabismus is a potential diagnosis.

Untreated, strabismus can worsen and lead to lazy eye or depth perception issues.

RELATED: Strabismus or Lazy Eye? Knowing the difference.

2. White or Cloudy Pupil

A white reflection in photos, instead of the usual red-eye, or a cloudy appearance of the pupil of a child, are two warning signs. Together and on their own, they could signal:

• Congenital cataract

• Retinoblastoma (a rare but serious eye cancer)

• Retinal Detachment

• Corneal problems

Conditions like these are an ophthalmological emergency. Report to an eye doctor immediately, even if your baby's health seems fine.

3. Eyes That Don’t Seem to Follow Objects or Make Eye Contact

By 2–3 months, babies should start tracking movement and showing interest in faces. If your baby seems to stare blankly, doesn’t respond to visual stimuli, or avoids eye contact, it may suggest a vision delay or even a neurological issue. Such eye problems could have lifelong devastating effects on eyesight.

4. Rapid, Jerky, or Unusual Eye Movements

Rapid side-to-side or jerky movements, called nystagmus, aren't normal in infants. Nystagmus may be present at birth or appear within the first few months. These unusual movements of the eyes may suggest an underlying neurological or visual issue. Nystagmus always warrants an eye and neurological exam.

5. Frequent Squinting, Head Tilting, or Covering One Eye

Squinting, head tilting, and covering an eye are all signs of eye problems in babies. Since babies can't communicate effectively yet, this is their way to tell you something is not right. These actions usually indicate your little one is trying to compensate for:

• Blurry vision in one eye

• A strong prescription difference between the two eyes (anisometropia)

Such behaviors are often subtle but significant.

6. Tearing, Redness, or Eye Discharge

Constant tearing (not just crying), swollen eyelids, redness, and yellowish/green discharge are also causes of concern. Noticing these symptoms in your baby could signal:

• Blocked tear duct

• Infection (like conjunctivitis)

Please don't ignore these signs. Get in touch with a pediatric eye doctor to check your baby's eyes.

RELATED: Eye Discharge and What it Means

7. Light Sensitivity (Photophobia)

Most babies blink or turn away from bright light. But if your baby seems extremely uncomfortable, squints constantly indoors, or keeps their eyes tightly shut in bright rooms, pay attention. Excessive blinking, squinting, or fussiness in bright light may be linked to:

• Corneal issues

• Glaucoma

• Albinism

Excessive light sensitivity is rare, so don't ignore the signs if they are present.

8. Drooping Eyelid (Ptosis)

If one of your baby’s upper eyelids droops lower than the other, it probably interferes with normal vision development. Ptosis may block light from reaching the eye. That may lead to amblyopia if the brain ignores the blocked eye.

9. Unequal Pupils or Irregular Pupil Shape

Take a close look at the mirror in good lighting to determine if the baby's pupils appear the same size. Also, check if they are round and responsive to light. Unequal pupils (anisocoria) or abnormally shaped pupils can signal nerve problems, eye trauma or developmental issues inside the eye.

RELATED: Eye Problems in Premature Babies

When in Doubt, Check It Out

Remember, you don't need to know exactly what's wrong. Your baby can't tell you, but it will show you. Your only task is to be vigilant and notice when something seems off. If your baby shows even one of the abovementioned signs, it’s perfectly reasonable to:

• Bring it up with your pediatrician

• Request a referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist

• Schedule a baby-friendly eye exam (yes, even babies can have one!)

If your baby is a newborn and doesn't show any symptoms yet, always schedule an eye exam if:

• Your baby was born prematurely

• There’s a family history of lazy eye, strabismus, congenital cataracts, and glaucoma

• Your baby has a condition associated with vision problems (e.g., Down syndrome, cerebral palsy)

Early action prevents lifelong vision problems. You’re not overreacting, you’re being proactive towards your baby's eye health.

Resources:

• Childhood Eye Diseases and Conditions, American Academy of Ophthalmology

✅ Medically reviewed by Atanas Bogoev, MD.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maria Bogoeva is a medical writer with over 11 years of experience in copywriting and content strategy. She’s the founder of Ophthalmology24, where she leads the creation of clear, practical, and medically accurate content for ophthalmologists and patients. Her mission: make ophthalmology education more accessible and engaging worldwide.

Atanas Bogoev, M.D., FEBO is a consultant ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, and co-founder of Ophthalmology24. Atanas has trained internationally, attending courses at Harvard Medical School, Oftalmo University, and completing observerships such as the GAASS program in Toronto. He combines surgical experience with a passion for education, translating surgical best practices and clinical learning into accessible resources.