Do eyes grow

autumn1971 · 20th July 2007, 11:49 PM

Does a newborn baby have eyes that are the same size as his adult eyes?

I know that mammilian babies have proportionally larger eyes than adults, but what of the common assertion that our eyes do not increase in size as we, as humans, mature?

Dogdoctor · 21st July 2007, 12:56 AM

I have no scientific evidence but I am pretty sure they grow quite a bit.

Big Al · 21st July 2007, 02:03 AM

Not a lot, actually. Babies have comparatively huge heads and eyes. There is some growth (that's where developing long and short sight come from), but nowhere near as much as the rest of the body.

Mr. Scott · 21st July 2007, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by autumn1971

Does a newborn baby have eyes that are the same size as his adult eyes?

I know that mammilian babies have proportionally larger eyes than adults, but what of the common assertion that our eyes do not increase in size as we, as humans, mature?

It's been a long time since I've read a report on this, so I'm going on memory, although a google search for "eyes grow focus" turned up some enlightening articles like this one

The distance between the lens and the retina (eyeball diameter), ideally the "focal length," is crucial for a lifetime reception of clear images. Baby eyeballs are too small to focus well, but the reception of blurred images has been shown to result in eyeball growth to compensate. Apparently, children who's eyes are in the growth phase who read a lot may develop nearsightedness, since their eyeballs will continue growing beyond their normal stopping point. Children who seldom read but more often play outside will develop better distance vision. Somehow, the reception of fuzzy images stimulates the eyeball to grow, and the reception of clear images stops the growth. This has been demonstrated by experiments on rhesus monkeys, as described in the linked article above. I quote from it below:

Quote:

Texas researchers raised 11 infant monkeys with
glasses fixed permanently in front of their eyes. The left lens
was always plain, flat glass, while the right lens (plus or minus)
caused images to focus either in front of the retina or behind it.
After three months, one eye had grown more than the other,
presumably to position the retina at the proper spot for clear
vision. When the spectacles were removed, the monkeys' eyes again
grew at different rates and eventually returned to similar
lengths, restoring their vision to normal.

Gord_in_Toronto · 21st July 2007, 10:34 AM

I have been led to believe (checks sig carefully) that human eyes double in size from birth to adulthood.

I tried a bit of Googling for this but did not get very far.

Now off to the park to have a picnic with my wife.

joshbuckley · 21st July 2007, 03:01 PM

I think during birth a child's head is 1/3 of his/her body, while in adults that ratio is 1/7. I assume somewhat similar ratios would apply to eyes as well.

Dogdoctor · 21st July 2007, 05:47 PM

I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth.
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html

Gord_in_Toronto · 21st July 2007, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth.
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html

Ah. That's less than doubling of the diameter and about three times the volume.

I'll respect my sig.

autumn1971 · 21st July 2007, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth.
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html

Thank you. I only found, in my cursory search, language such as "very little", "not noticably", and so on.

20th July 2007, 11:49 PM	#1
autumn1971 Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 622	Do eyes grow Does a newborn baby have eyes that are the same size as his adult eyes? I know that mammilian babies have proportionally larger eyes than adults, but what of the common assertion that our eyes do not increase in size as we, as humans, mature?
autumn1971 Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 622	__________________ 'A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggardly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson, glass-gazing, superservicable, finical rogue;... the son and heir of a mongral bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition."' -The Bard

21st July 2007, 12:56 AM	#2
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,381	I have no scientific evidence but I am pretty sure they grow quite a bit.
	__________________

21st July 2007, 02:03 AM	#3
Big Al Mage Questor Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: La-la Land Posts: 806	Not a lot, actually. Babies have comparatively huge heads and eyes. There is some growth (that's where developing long and short sight come from), but nowhere near as much as the rest of the body.
	__________________ I don't believe in God. I stopped needing a comfort blanket a long time ago.

21st July 2007, 02:03 AM	#4
Mr. Scott Under the Amazing One's Wing Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 930	Eyeball Growth is controlled by Visual Focus Feedback Originally Posted by autumn1971 Does a newborn baby have eyes that are the same size as his adult eyes? I know that mammilian babies have proportionally larger eyes than adults, but what of the common assertion that our eyes do not increase in size as we, as humans, mature? It's been a long time since I've read a report on this, so I'm going on memory, although a google search for "eyes grow focus" turned up some enlightening articles like this one The distance between the lens and the retina (eyeball diameter), ideally the "focal length," is crucial for a lifetime reception of clear images. Baby eyeballs are too small to focus well, but the reception of blurred images has been shown to result in eyeball growth to compensate. Apparently, children who's eyes are in the growth phase who read a lot may develop nearsightedness, since their eyeballs will continue growing beyond their normal stopping point. Children who seldom read but more often play outside will develop better distance vision. Somehow, the reception of fuzzy images stimulates the eyeball to grow, and the reception of clear images stops the growth. This has been demonstrated by experiments on rhesus monkeys, as described in the linked article above. I quote from it below: Quote: Texas researchers raised 11 infant monkeys with glasses fixed permanently in front of their eyes. The left lens was always plain, flat glass, while the right lens (plus or minus) caused images to focus either in front of the retina or behind it. After three months, one eye had grown more than the other, presumably to position the retina at the proper spot for clear vision. When the spectacles were removed, the monkeys' eyes again grew at different rates and eventually returned to similar lengths, restoring their vision to normal.
	__________________ Why is the world so different from what we think it is? - Ting-Ting, from the film Yi Yi. Last edited by Mr. Scott; 21st July 2007 at 02:20 AM. Reason: Changed "focal distance" to "focal length"

21st July 2007, 10:34 AM	#5
Gord_in_Toronto Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,165	I have been led to believe (checks sig carefully) that human eyes double in size from birth to adulthood. I tried a bit of Googling for this but did not get very far. Now off to the park to have a picnic with my wife.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick Now completely free.

21st July 2007, 03:01 PM	#6
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	I think during birth a child's head is 1/3 of his/her body, while in adults that ratio is 1/7. I assume somewhat similar ratios would apply to eyes as well.
joshbuckley New Blood Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18

21st July 2007, 05:47 PM	#7
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,381	I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html
	__________________

21st July 2007, 06:56 PM	#8
Gord_in_Toronto Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,165	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html Ah. That's less than doubling of the diameter and about three times the volume. I'll respect my sig.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick Now completely free.

21st July 2007, 10:36 PM	#9
autumn1971 Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 622	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor I found a web page that states that the average eye grows from about 18mm to 24-25mm. I'd say that is a significant amount of growth. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/overview.html Thank you. I only found, in my cursory search, language such as "very little", "not noticably", and so on.
autumn1971 Muse Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 622	__________________ 'A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggardly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson, glass-gazing, superservicable, finical rogue;... the son and heir of a mongral bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition."' -The Bard