Is Flash Photography Safe for a Baby’s Eyes?

Technology today has made life much easier than before. With the advent of new gadgets, clicking a picture of your newborn’s first moments is just a matter of a few seconds. As a parent, it is quite obvious that you would like to capture your baby’s pictures to create memories and cherish them for a lifetime. But the question that arises in every parent’s mind is: is flash photography safe for the baby’s eyes? Well, it is a frequently asked question along with – is flash bad for babies? So read on to find out the effects of flash photography on newborns.

Do Camera Flashes Affect Baby’s Eyes?

There has been a lot of debate over the years about the effect of a camera’s flash on the eyes of a newborn baby. Many people believe that a newborn’s organs are susceptible to powerful sources of light. So, exposure to a strong source of light, such as a camera’s flash can cause damage to their eyesight. However, extensive studies have been conducted on this subject, and it has been observed that camera flashes do not affect the baby in any way. Just like other sources of light such as tube lights or direct sunlight, it might dazzle the baby’s eyes for a few seconds. But this does not harm the baby’s eyesight in any way.

However, flash photography should not be used to capture a baby’s picture in a completely dark room or in low-lit conditions. This is because it creates a lightning effect due to which one loses their eyesight completely for a few seconds, as it stresses the retina. However, this is not something characteristic of babies only. Adults too can equally be affected by a flashlight in a completely dark room.

Doctors believe that the use of a flashlight while clicking pictures of a newborn can help detect vision problems in a baby. The flash leads to a “red-eye effect” in a photograph: where a person with perfectly centred eyes will have red spots in place of the cornea of the eye when clicked. This happens for a newborn too, and if it is found that the red-eye effect on one eye is brighter than the other, it would indicate the need for immediate medical attention.

Can a Baby Go Blind from a Camera’s Flash?

It has often been falsely reported that a camera’s flashlight can blind a newborn’s eyes. After a lot of research, the doctors have come to the conclusion that there is no harmful relation between a camera flash and babies. So, using a camera’s flash on babies will not cause any damage to their eyesight, let alone blind them.

Whenever there is a bright light, the pupil in the eye constricts for protection. The pupillary reaction in newborn babies those who are less than a month old or even preterm is not well-developed. So, whenever there is a bright flash, the pupils don’t protect the eyes from this. That said, most cameras don’t have a flashlight of intensity high enough to cause blindness of any sort. Most of the time, the retina would respond well and get back to normal. But in the case of non-standardised cameras like the ones used for wedding photography, for instance, which have high illumination levels with larger flashes, there is a risk of potential damage. But usually, for children more than one month of age, it is not true. The cameras can be used comfortably.

In 2015, China’s official state newspaper People’s Daily published a frightening story about a family in China that claimed that their baby’s eyesight was lost due to flash photography. This news article which claimed that the flash of a camera blinded a 3-months-old baby was challenged by Dr Alex Levin. He is the chief paediatric ophthalmologist as well as an ocular geneticist at Philadelphia’s Will’s Eye Hospital. According to him, it is impossible for a camera’s flash to cause such damage. Regular eye check-ups and eye surgeries involve exposing the patient’s eyes to a strong source of light to check for any visual anomalies.

How to Protect Baby’s Eyes From Camera Flash?

The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the body, and your newborn’s eyes are extremely sensitive. Therefore, as a parent, you have to ensure that his eyes are protected against any damage from external sources. Hence, you should keep the following things in mind to prevent hurting your baby’s eyes:

• Avoid Rubbing Eyes: Make sure your baby does not rub his eyes too much. Since a baby is too small to understand what might cause permanent damage, it is better to prevent him from rubbing his eyes constantly.
• Keep Away from Sharp Objects: Make sure your child is kept away from sharp objects. Getting hurt in the eyes with a sharp object can damage the retina leading to severe and irreversible damage.
• Examine the Symptoms: If you notice some abnormality in your child’s eyes, do not neglect it. Symptoms of injury or infection include redness in the eye, excessive and uncontrollable tears, or even irritation in the eyes. If you think they are more than usual, make sure you visit a doctor.

How to Photograph a Newborn Child Without Flash?

Photographing a newborn child without using a flash is not only safer for their delicate eyes but also helps create a softer, more natural look in your images. Here are some tips to capture beautiful newborn portraits without flash:

1. Utilize Natural Light

Position the baby near a window where soft, diffused natural light streams in. This gentle light provides a flattering illumination without harsh shadows.

2. Opt for a Fast Lens

Choose a lens with a wide aperture (low f-stop number) like f/1.8 or f/2.8 to allow more light into the camera sensor, enabling you to shoot in low-light conditions without a flash.

3. Use Reflectors or White Foam Boards

Bounce natural light onto the baby’s face by using reflectors or white foam boards to fill in shadows and create a softer, more evenly lit portrait.

4. Shoot in Continuous Mode

Babies can be unpredictable, so shooting in continuous mode allows you to capture multiple shots in quick succession, increasing the likelihood of getting that perfect moment.

5. Mind the Temperature

Keep the room comfortably warm to ensure the baby stays cozy and content throughout the photo session, reducing the chances of fussiness or discomfort.

6. Be Patient and Flexible

Newborns have their own schedules, so be patient and flexible during the shoot. Take breaks when needed and be prepared to work around the baby’s feeding and sleeping times.

FAQs

1. Is 3 months too late to take newborn photos?

No, 3 months is not too late to take newborn photos, but they won’t be traditional newborn portraits. At this age, babies may be more alert and have less of that newborn “curl” but can still be captured beautifully in photos.

2. When to take newborn photos?

The ideal time to take newborn photos is within the first two weeks after birth when babies are sleepier, more flexible, and have that distinct newborn look. However, photos can still be taken within the first month to capture precious early moments.

3. Can using flash affect a baby’s sleep patterns?

Yes, using flash can potentially affect a baby’s sleep patterns by disrupting their circadian rhythm and causing sleep disturbances. It’s recommended to avoid using flash and instead utilize natural light or low-light photography techniques for newborn photography to minimize any negative impact on the baby’s sleep.

This was all about flash photography and newborns. Even though there have been a lot of discussions about the possibility of a camera’s flash harming a baby’s eyes, it has been proven that this is just a myth. It can safely be concluded that clicking pictures through flash photography of infants under normal circumstances does not affect their vision in any way.

References/Resources:

1. Do numerous camera flashes have a negative impact on a baby’s eyes?; American Academy of Ophthalmology; https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/camera-flash-baby

Also Read: 

Eye Infection in Babies
Eye Problems in Infants
Photography Ideas for Babies

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.