TY - JOUR A1 - Adio, Adedayo A1 - Bodunde, Olubunmi A1 - Hyvärinen, Lea T1 - The importance of detecting delays in the development of visual functioning and signs of disorders of the eyes during the 1 st year of life: An African perspective Y1 - 2015/10/1 JF - Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine JO - Sub-Saharan Afr J Med SP - 149 EP - 153 VL - 2 IS - 4 UR - https://www.ssajm.org/article.asp?issn=2384-5147;year=2015;volume=2;issue=4;spage=149;epage=153;aulast=Adio DO - 10.4103/2384-5147.172432 N2 - Normal visual functioning is related to cognitive, motor, and emotional development since typical children learn to use visual communication, to move, to talk, and to develop many activities they observe others using. Early detection of atypical visual functioning, particularly in the 1 st year of life can help avoid potentially life-threatening conditions and delays in development which may follow. This article discusses five visual developmental milestones during the 1 st year of life in a typical healthy infant. It also advocates using these milestones in a multidisciplinary approach to early intervention, which includes training of pediatricians and other stakeholders in contact with infants at every level. In addition to this, the development of a cadre of ophthalmic counselors to improve compliance and follow-up may be a cost-effective strategy for pediatric vision care in the developing countries today. ER -