Moreover, although all babies are screened at birth for eye problems, retinoblastoma is not necessarily present at this time. Finally, these tests do not eliminate the need for well-baby visits with your primary care provider or pediatrician. If the ophthalmologist detects abnormalities, an examination under anesthesia may be required to further evaluate your child. Most parents are familiar with the red reflection one often gets in children's eyes when taking flash photographs. The red reflex can also be elicited by dimming the room lights and using a flashlight to shine light directly into the child's eyes.
Parents can test their children by evaluating eye symmetry in normal lighting.
The eyes should appear normal and equal in size. They should move together and focus normally. The two eyes should be aligned normally and should not wander or cross. Another way to test symmetry is to cover your child's eyes separately with your hand. First cover one eye, then move your hand over the other eye.