The eye test, also known as the Red Reflex Test, is a test that is performed during the first week of the newborn’s life and that aims to identify early changes in vision, such as congenital cataracts, glaucoma or strabism, for example, also being considered an important tool in the prevention of childhood blindness.
Although it is indicated that the test should be performed in the maternity ward, the eye test may also be performed during the first consultation with the pediatrician, and must be repeated at 4, 6, 12 and 24 months.
- The eye test should be done on all newborns.
- Especially those born with microcephaly or whose mothers were infected with Zika virus during pregnancy.
- As the risk of developing vision changes is higher.
The eye exam is used to identify any changes in your baby’s vision that suggest diseases such as congenital cataracts, glaucoma, retinoblastoma, high levels of myopia and hyperopia, and even blindness.
The eye test doesn’t hurt and is fast, done by the pediatrician using a small device that projects a light into the newborn’s eyes.
When this light is reflected reddish, orange or yellowish, it means that the baby’s eye structures are healthy. However, when reflected light is whitish or differently between the eyes, more tests should be done with the ophthalmologist to investigate the possibility of vision problems.
In addition to the vision test immediately after birth, the baby should be taken to an ophthalmologist during the first year of life and at 3 years of age. In addition, parents should be aware of signs of vision problems, such as non-monitoring the movement of objects and lights, the presence of photographs in which the child’s eyes reflect white light, or the presence of cross-eyed after 3 years, indicating strabism.
In the presence of these signs, the child should be examined with the ophthalmologist, which facilitates the identification of the problem and appropriate treatment to prevent more serious problems, such as blindness.
See other tests your baby should take shortly after birth.