Neurosensory visual development of the foetus and newborn and neonatal intensive care units

In neonatal intensive care units, newborn can be exposed to stress, which can damage the early development of his visual function. Being aware of the different processes of the complex visual system (embryogenesis, neuronal organization, neurosensory visual development) enables to propose practical recommendations to prevent early injures on the development of foetus and newborn visual system to limit the use of drugs that produce central nervous system depression, to respect sleep and cyclization of the light (darkness periods), to reduce strong stimuli (bright light, intense noise, pain), and to stimulate visual experience,with various objects in the central visual field. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.