Imagine you've taken a photo of your little one. Sometimes, when you take a photo with a flash, the eyes look red. But if you see one of the black pupils in the photo glowing white, gray, or yellow, you'll be a little worried, right? That's what we call leukocoria in medical terms. Although this is most often seen in children, it can sometimes occur in adults as well.
What exactly is Leukocoria?
Simply put, leukocoria means "white pupil." Some people also call it a "cat's eye pupil."
Now, what normally happens is that when light hits the eye, it hits the retina at the back of the eye and the light that comes back out appears red. That's why our eyes look red when we take a photo with a flash. This is called the 'red reflex' in medicine.
However, if there is an obstruction in the path of light to the retina, it is only when the light hits the obstruction and bounces back that it appears white, gray, or yellow. This is an important sign that there may be something abnormal inside the eye.
Is this serious? Should we be afraid?
But the most important thing to remember here is that there is no reason to panic or be afraid just because you see something like that in one photo.
Sometimes, light can be reflected off the surface of the eye and appear as such. It is usually just a small shimmer on one side of the pupil. However, in leukocoria, the pupil appears almost completely white.
If you have any doubts, try this:
- Take a few more photos of the child.
- Look at it from each side (top, bottom, left, right).
- Try it with and without the flash.
If your black ring finger appears white in many photos, don't ignore it. It's best to see a pediatrician or ophthalmologist immediately for advice.
What causes this?
There can be several causes of leukocoria. Some are not serious and can be treated. But some are conditions that we should be especially concerned about.
| Reason | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Most common reasons | |
| Cataracts | This is the most common cause (about 74%). This condition can occur due to clouding of the lens of the eye, either congenital or pediatric. |
| Retinoblastoma | This is the reason we should be most concerned. This is a cancer that occurs in the retina. Early detection is very important. |
| Other (rare) causes | |
| Retinal detachment | The separation of the retina from the underlying tissue inside the eye. |
| Retinopathy of prematurity | Abnormal development of blood vessels in the eyes of premature babies. |
| Coats disease | A condition caused by fluid leaking from the blood vessels in the retina. |
| Other very rare causes | Other causes include persistent fetal vasculature (PFV), endophthalmitis (an infection inside the eye), coloboma (a congenital hole in part of the eye), and TORCH infections (infections transmitted from the pregnant mother to the baby). |
How is it treated?
Leukocoria is treated based on the underlying cause. Your doctor will perform the necessary tests, determine the exact cause, and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Treatment for cataracts
This is the most common cause and one that is easily treated. The most common procedure is to surgically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. This can be very successful in children.
Treatment for Retinoblastoma
This is a bit complicated. The treatment for this cancer depends on many factors, such as the location of the tumor, its size, and whether it has spread.
As treatment methods:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Cryotherapy
- Thermotherapy
One or more treatments can be used together. The most important thing here is to diagnose the disease and start treatment as soon as possible. That way, the child's eye and vision are more likely to be saved.
Treatments for other rare conditions vary. Your doctor will explain each condition to you clearly and explain the best treatment for it.
What you can do as a parent
Most of the time, when you go to the baby clinic, the doctor checks the child's eyes for this 'red reflex'. But sometimes, as parents, you are the first to see this in a photo.
So, keep this in mind when looking at your child's photos. This doesn't mean you should look at every photo with suspicion. But if you see something suspicious, don't ignore it.
Remember, retinoblastoma accounts for about 1 in 5 childhood eye cancers. Therefore, early detection and treatment greatly increases the chances of saving a child's life, as well as their eyes and vision.
Therefore, if you ever notice any of these symptoms, the best and only thing to do is to seek medical advice, rather than searching for information on the internet.
Take-Home Message
- If a child's iris appears white, gray, or yellow in a photo, it is called leukocoria.
- While the most common cause of this is a treatable condition such as cataracts, it can also be a symptom of a serious eye cancer called retinoblastoma.
- Don't be alarmed just by seeing it in one photo. Take a few more photos from different angles and check.
- If the black ringworm continues to appear completely white in several photos, do not delay and see a pediatrician or ophthalmologist immediately.
- Early detection greatly increases the chance of saving a child's eye, vision, and even life. Never ignore a sign like this.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
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This is not just a problem that comes from not applying creams! 'Dry Skin' is a very annoying condition in which the natural oil (Sebum) and water needed by a person's skin are completely lost, causing the skin to become unusually rough, scaly, peeling and unbearable itching (Pruritus/Itching). This may also be an outward symptom of a dangerous disease inside the body!
💬 What are the main reasons for the loss of moisture in the skin and the peeling of the skin (Dry Skin)?
There are several main reasons for this: 1) 'Environment and habits' - staying in AC all day, bathing in hot water for hours, and using harsh soaps (which strip away all the oil from the body)! 2) 'Skin Conditions' - Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis, and Psoriasis (a severe skin condition that causes red patches and silvery scales). 3) The most dangerous causes: Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, and Kidney disease.
💬 What are some home remedies for dry skin? When should you see a doctor?
Be sure to apply a good moisturizer (Thick Moisturizer/Vaseline) to your damp body after bathing, stop bathing in hot water, and use mild soap! However, if 1) your skin is cracked/cracked and bleeding and oozing yellow pus (Pus/Infection), 2) you can't stand the itching and can't sleep at night (Severe severe itching), 3) your skin is red and swollen from the heat (Cellulitis - a severe bacterial infection), you should see a dermatologist immediately!
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