Doctors said the three-month-old, who has not been named, has suffered irreparable damage from the flash of the camera, which was held about 10 inches away from the baby boy.
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#1: The baby's damaged eyes
Medical reports say the child suffered blindness in his right eye and reduced vision in his left eye. The damage the reports say may not be able to be fixed by surgery.
#2: How the phone's flash caused the blindness
The baby's eyes were damaged when a family friend of the infant's parents used a camera with the flash on to take a picture. Apparently both the parents and the friend forgot to switch off the flash. The camera was just 10 inches from the infant's face.
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#3: Why a strong camera flash can damage a baby's eyes and vision
Doctors say the "macula" in infants isn't fully developed until the age of four. The job of the "macula" is to focus incoming rays of light allowing people to see straight ahead. Since it is underdeveloped in early childhood it is sensitive to strong and bright light. Even though babies shut their eyes when exposed to bright light as a reflex but milliseconds of bright light can cause permanent damage. Which is why doctors ask parents to avoid using strong lights around infants, especially during baths.
