Pediatric Eye Care in White Bear Lake

Pediatric Eye Care in White Bear Lake

Children's Eye Doctors - Dedicated to Helping Kids See Clearly

Schedule Eye Exam

Pediatric Eye Care: Why Is It Important?

  • Concerned that your baby’s eyesight may be hindering their development?
  • Do your toddler’s eyes appear misaligned?

Studies show that up to 10% of preschoolers have vision problems. However, kids generally aren't aware there's an issue, and don't complain about their eyes. It is therefore crucial to detect the first signs of vision problems before complications arise.

Give them the clear vision and healthy eyes they deserve by visiting our White Bear Lake pediatric eye doctor at Birch Lake Eye Clinic.

boy getting eye exam


Safeguard Your Child’s Vision, Now and In the Future

Your Pediatric Eye Care Professional in White Bear Lake

Our optometry practice in White Bear Lake

Photograph of Brian Grudem
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Nov. 23 Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

4 Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem

  • Trouble seeing electronic screens

    Your child sits very close, tilts their head or squints to better see TVs, computer screens and other electronic screens.

  • Difficulty reading or following moving objects

    Your child often loses their place while reading, or can’t track a ball as it moves when playing sports.

  • Headaches & eye strain

    Your child complains of tired eyes or headaches after performing tasks that are visually intensive, such as reading or writing.

  • Missed milestones

    Your child may miss milestones such as crawling and walking, or show signs of poor depth perception.

For your child to successfully engage in sports and achieve their academic potential, they need to have healthy eyes and clear vision. The experienced and caring children's eye doctors at Birch Lake Eye Clinic will carefully examine their eyes and provide guidance to ensure your child’s healthy vision.


Pediatric Eye Exams: What You Need to Know

  • Baby’s First Eye Exam- 6 months old

    Though your baby won’t be able to speak yet, we can still assess their eye health. Is there anything abnormal about their eyes' appearance? Do the eyes move in unison? Can your baby’s eyes follow a toy or a familiar face in motion? Do they respond to light? Your child’s general eye health will be assessed for infection, or eye conditions such as an eye turn or potentially sight-threatening eye disease.

  • Eye Exams for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Ages 2 - 5

    At Birch Lake Eye Clinic we do our best to make eye exams fun for the little ones; we use toys and other fun objects where possible, and our eye charts for little kids feature colorful shapes or pictures that they’ll recognize. We check for poor depth perception, color vision problems, strabismus/amblyopia (eye turns/lazy eye), and problems with visual focusing. Our optometrist may dilate your preschooler’s pupils to get a better view of their retina, optic nerve and blood vessels.

  • Eye Exams of School-Age Kids: Ages 6 - 18

    For this age group, our eye care team will use advanced technologies to assess refractive errors and determine how well the visual system is functioning. This includes checking for difficulties with distance and near vision and signs of eye disease, eye-coordination problems or other health conditions.

Patient Reviews
4.9
348 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Sep. 05, 2023
Great care was given to issues with my eyes along with a kind and attentive staff, I would highly re... commend Birch Lake Eye Clinic!
- Aug. 05, 2023
I highly recommend Dr. Lundell & all the staff at Birch Lake Eye Clinic.
- Jul. 31, 2023
Great staff!
- Jun. 12, 2023
Outstanding! went well beyond what I was expecting to accommodate my oddball request in bifocals.
- May. 19, 2023
Very nice environment!! Been going for years
- May. 04, 2023
This clinic - and the personnel all all amazing! I highly recommend it.
- Apr. 22, 2023
Clean, organized, friendly, knowledgeable! A+
- Apr. 18, 2023
Best eye exam ever
- Apr. 06, 2023
Always a pleasant experience
- Apr. 04, 2023
Always amazing service. Personable. I have been going there since I was a kid, and now mine go there... too.
- Mar. 25, 2023
Professional, friendly, knowledgeable and efficient.
- Mar. 17, 2023
Very helpful and pleasant staff and doctors. I would recommend them to anyone.
- Mar. 03, 2023
I've seen Dr Grudem for 15 to 20 years and he is fantastic. I just met Dr. Lucas today and was very ... impressed , I would be very happy to see him if Dr. Grudem was not available .
- Jan. 21, 2023
Dr. Lucas, and the whole staff, have helped our family greatly and treated us with the best care and... respect. Topnotch! We are grateful.
- Jan. 19, 2023
The village eye should be called the happy place.
- Dec. 12, 2022
My family loves the Staff and Dr. Schwantke. They are nice and personable, Always taking the time t... o answer any and all questions my children and I have for them.
- Dec. 12, 2022
Great facility, nice Dr's. best part is with new technology, you don't have to have your eyes dilate... d for most things.
- Dec. 07, 2022
Professional, kind, knowledgeable and fun
- Dec. 05, 2022
Dr. Lucas is one of the best! Birch Lake is a wonderful place to go.
- Dec. 01, 2022
This office has all the latest up-to-date equipment and technology for diagnosing my particular eye ... situation and problem areas. I have been seeing Dr Grudem for over 40 years, so he is like a trusted friend to me.

View All 348 Reviews

Pediatric Eye Care FAQs

How do you take care of kids
  • Make sure they wear sunglasses and a hat to protect their eyes from dangerous UV rays when outside.
  • Increase the time they spend outdoors. 
  • Make sure they eat their fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies high in lutein and zeaxanthin have been found to protect eyes from free radical damage.
  • Schedule regular pediatric eye exams. Detecting and treating eye conditions and diseases commonly found in children, such as strabismus and amblyopia, can help prevent unnecessary struggles and vision problems later in life. The pediatric eye doctor will also check your child’s vision for refractive errors and visual skill deficiencies that might hinder your child’s development.
At what age should I bring my child for their first eye exam?

Our pediatric eye professionals recommend you bring your child in for their first eye exam at around 6 months of age. This allows your child’s eye doctor to check that their vision is progressing as expected. Early detection and treatment of certain conditions at this stage of development are essential for keeping your child’s vision and eye health on track, and can help prevent complications as they grow up.

Can I use Ortho-K lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

While kids may wear glasses from as early as a few months of age, most kids who wear glasses tend to get them between the ages of 6 and 12. The three main conditions for which they wear eyeglasses are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.


eye exam for kids in White Bear Lake

Your child deserves to see the world clearly!

Birch Lake Eye Clinic pediatric eye doctors can help.

Schedule Eye Exam