Walnut Creek Optometry Group
Pediatric Eye Care
Children don't always tell us when something is off with their vision. Our pediatric exams look for conditions that can affect learning, development, and quality of life — and catch them early.
What's included
- First eye exam recommended by age 1 (InfantSEE program)
- Pre-school and school-age screenings
- Detection of amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (eye turn)
- Assessment of convergence and accommodation
- Referral for vision therapy when appropriate
- Myopia monitoring and control
Recommended ages for first exams
A child's eyes change quickly as muscles and tissues develop. The earlier we catch a problem, the more we can do about it. Here are the milestones we follow:
- Newborn — a basic red-reflex test confirms the eyes look healthy at birth, with a fuller exam if the baby was premature or has family history of childhood vision disorders.
- 6 to 12 months — pupil response, fixate-and-follow, and preferential-looking tests confirm that vision is developing on track.
- 3 to 3½ years — we assess visual acuity and eye alignment, looking for strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors that respond best to early treatment.
- School age — yearly screening for acuity and alignment, with nearsightedness being the most common finding in this age group.
Warning signs to watch for
Some signs are obvious — squinting, holding books close, complaining of blur. Others are quieter: short attention span on visual tasks, losing place when reading, avoiding drawing or screen time, or tilting the head to look straight ahead. If any of these sound familiar, schedule a screening — the earlier we look, the easier the fix.
Contact Us
Have a question, or ready to schedule?
All appointments are scheduled by phone — please give us a call during office hours.
Call 925-934-4313