By the prenatal stage, the visual system is beginning to develop, with the eyes forming by the fourth week of gestation and the retina becoming light-sensitive by the second trimester. The fetus relies on limited visual input, primarily responding to changes in light and darkness, which helps shape early neural connections.
Although vision is not fully developed, fetal eye movements and sensitivity to light exposure contribute to the maturation of the visual pathways. Early visual experiences in the womb lay the foundation for postnatal visual processing, enabling newborns to gradually develop focus, tracking, and recognition skills essential for later cognitive and motor development.