Debunked: Our eyes are always the same size from birth

There are many ‘did you know’-facts that go around on the internet that are just not true. You will find them often on websites or in your mail with long lists with just stating the facts without any background information or some sort of verification. We will debunk them regularly on this blog, starting with the myth that our eyes are the same size when we are a baby as when we are an adult.

Are our eyes the same size from birth?

The question whether our eyes are the same size from birth or not is one that’s been asked quite frequently. It would indeed be remarkable, considering we assume that everything grows when we grow up and get bigger and taller. Would be strange not so wouldn’t it? Then again, eyes do appear quite big in babies, so maybe this isn’t so strange after all?
Think again; Of course your eyes are now bigger then they were when you were a baby!
Although the eye is clearly bigger in relation to the size of the head with babies, the eye does grow.
A few quotes to prove this;
Professor Zadnik: from a BBC News article

“Eyes grow rapidly during the first two years of life,[...]“

from TIME; MEDICINE: How Children Grow

“The eyeball becomes as big as it ever will when a child is about four years old.”

From Ted M. Montgomery, Optometric Physician

“The average newborns eyeball is about 18 millimeters in diameter, from front to back (axial length). In an infant, the eye grows slightly to a length of approximately 19 millimeters.
The eye continues to grow, gradually, to a length of about 24-25 millimeters, or about 1 inch, in adulthood.”

One thing is worth noting when reading this; apparently there is some debate about when the eye actually reaches is full size (four years old or adulthood?). But growing from 18millimeters to 24-25 millimeters is of course a significant growth.

So now you know; the human eye actually does grow bigger during your life time.

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