Have you noticed a small change in the black iris (cornea) of your little one's eye, perhaps a keyhole-like shape? Or did the doctor examine your baby and say that there is a small defect inside the eye? It's normal to feel a little scared when you hear these things. But don't worry. Today we are going to talk about a condition called "Coloboma", which is often heard at times like these.
What exactly is a coloboma?
Simply put, coloboma is a defect in your baby's eye, where a part of the eye tissue doesn't develop fully. It's present at birth. It can be in just one eye, or it can be in both eyes.
Most of the time, we see a coloboma in the colored part of the eye, the iris . Then the black part in the middle of the eye, the pupil, looks like a keyhole shape . But this is the most common way it is visible from the outside. In addition, there are also types of colobomas inside the eye that are not visible to us from the outside.
Some colobomas don't cause any symptoms. But some can seriously affect a baby's vision. The symptoms depend on where in the eye the coloboma is located and what type of tissue is missing. A doctor can detect this as soon as the baby is born.
Who gets coloboma?
In fact, any baby can be born with a coloboma. It is considered a genetic disorder . This means that it can be inherited from parents to children. You may also hear it called a "congenital condition."
However, here's the thing: Even if your mother, father, or both have coloboma, it doesn't mean your child will definitely develop it.
How common is coloboma?
According to statistics, about one in every 10,000 babies born each year may have a coloboma. However, as mentioned earlier, not all colobomas cause visible symptoms, so this number may be slightly higher. Some people live without any symptoms, without any complications, and without even knowing they have a coloboma.
How does coloboma affect a child's eyes?
How much a coloboma affects your child depends on where it is located in the eye. It can affect just one eye (unilateral coloboma) or both eyes (bilateral coloboma). If it is in both eyes, it may affect different parts of the eyes.
What is the effect on the eye?
Some colobomas do not cause any damage to a child's vision. However, some can cause total blindness in the affected eye. For example, if a child has a coloboma in the retina , macula (the part of the retina that helps with sharp vision), or optic nerve, they may still have some vision, but it may be impaired.
When your child is very young, you may not notice this change in vision right away.
People with coloboma are more likely to develop other eye problems later in life, for example:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma condition
- Retinal detachment
Parts of the eye where coloboma can develop
Coloboma can develop in any part of a child's eye. For example:
- Iris (colored part of the eye)
- Retina (light-sensitive membrane inside the eye)
- Optic nerve ( nerve that carries visual information to the brain)
- Macula (the central part of the retina that is important for sharp, clear vision)
- Ciliary body (part of the eye that helps change the shape of the lens and provide nourishment to the eye)
- Eyelid
Shall we talk specifically about Iris Coloboma?
Coloboma of the iris is the most common type . As mentioned earlier, the iris is the colored part of the eye.
Babies born with iris coloboma are also called ``congenital iris coloboma''. The medical term ``congenital'' means something that someone is born with. Like other types of colobomas, iris coloboma can occur in one eye only (unilateral) or in both eyes (bilateral). People with iris coloboma may also have other colobomas in their retina or optic nerve.
Iris coloboma is diagnosed and treated in the same way as other types of coloboma. Some people use special contact lenses to help cover more of their pupil. Surgery can be done to change the appearance of an iris coloboma, but it is not suitable for everyone. Talk to your doctor or ophthalmologist about which treatments are right for your child and when they should be given.
What does an iris coloboma look like?
Coloboma of the iris can cause your child's pupil to take on a keyhole shape or a cat-eye shape . This shape depends on where it is located on the iris and how much tissue has been lost.
You may feel like the iris is "flowing" into the colored part of the eye. But don't worry, nothing is falling out of the eye or moving around inside. The iris and the iris are both thick layers of tissue. It's just that the missing piece of the iris makes the normally covered part of the iris more visible.
Does iris coloboma affect vision?
Yes, a coloboma of the iris can affect a child's vision.
The muscles in your iris control your pupil - the small black opening that lets light into your eye. Babies born with iris coloboma have a lack of tissue in their iris. This can make it difficult for their iris to control how big (dilated) or small (contracted) the pupil needs to be.
Depending on how large the coloboma is, it can cause symptoms that affect the child's vision. For example:
- Sensitivity to light (Photophobia) (feeling like your eyes are turning blue when exposed to light)
- Blurry vision
- Double vision (Diplopia)
- "Ghost images" (seeing blurry copies of an image you are looking at, or feeling like parts of the image remain visible even after you move your eyes)
What are the symptoms of coloboma?
If your child develops symptoms of coloboma, they may include:
- Sensitivity to light (Photophobia)
- A black hole shaped like a keyhole or a cat's eye (Pupil)
- Low vision , blindness or partial loss of vision
- Nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eyes )
A coloboma can affect only part of a child's visual field (that is, the entire range of vision they can see). Coloboma can cause things like:
- Decreased peripheral vision (what you can see to the sides when looking straight ahead)
- Difficulty with depth perception
- Having a larger than normal blind spot
What causes coloboma?
Experts believe that coloboma is caused by a genetic disorder that affects the development of the fetus's eye during pregnancy.
About two months before a baby is born, the eyes form by closing a part of the brain called the optic fissure . If this optic fissure does not close properly, the baby will develop a coloboma in one or both eyes.
Genes are made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) . These are the instructions for cells to function and the characteristics that make you unique. Although studies have shown that there is a link between certain genes and the likelihood of children being born with coloboma, there is not yet enough evidence to say for sure which genes are responsible.
Some external factors – for example, drinking alcohol during pregnancy – may increase your baby's risk of developing coloboma.
How is coloboma diagnosed?
Your doctor or ophthalmologist will diagnose a coloboma during an eye exam . They will examine your child's eye, look inside the eye, and identify any missing tissue. Anyone with a visible coloboma (one you can see from the outside) should have a dilated eye exam to check for other colobomas inside the eye.
What are the treatments for coloboma?
To be honest, there is currently no treatment to ``replace`` the lost tissue in your child's eye.
The important thing is that while lost tissue cannot be restored, there are treatments that can help improve a child's vision.
These treatments may include:
- Wearing corrective lenses (glasses or contacts)
- Wearing an eye patch to prevent "lazy eye / amblyopia"
- Low vision aids (if vision cannot be improved with the right lenses)
Some people with iris coloboma can have surgery to change the appearance of the affected eye.
Can coloboma be prevented?
You cannot prevent genetic conditions like coloboma from developing during pregnancy.
Coloboma – and other genetic conditions – have been found to be linked to certain environmental factors (things that happen to a pregnant woman or her environment). These include:
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking or using tobacco products
- Drug use for recreation
Talk to your doctor about what you should and shouldn't eat or drink while you're pregnant.
What happens if my child has coloboma? Should I be worried?
How much a coloboma affects your child's life depends on where it is in the eye. Many people live with a coloboma their entire lives without any symptoms or complications. For others, their vision can be affected from birth.
Although a coloboma can damage your child's vision, it is not life-threatening and will not spread . So don't be unnecessarily worried.
However, very rarely, a coloboma can be a sign of a life-threatening genetic syndrome called CHARGE syndrome . Talk to your doctor or ophthalmologist about the risks to your baby and what you and your child can expect as they grow.
When should you see a doctor?
If you notice any changes in your child's eyes or vision, see a doctor as soon as possible . Don't ignore even a small thing.
If your child has any of these symptoms , go to the hospital immediately :
- Sudden loss of vision
- Severe eye pain
- New flashes or floaters in the eyes
Questions to ask the doctor/doctor
When you go to see a doctor, don't forget to ask these questions. They will help you understand the situation a lot:
- What type of coloboma does my child have?
- How does this affect his vision?
- What treatments are available?
- Is he at increased risk of developing other eye problems?
Finally, things to remember
Coloboma is a permanent loss of part of your child's eye. Although it may never cause symptoms or vision problems, it will be with them for the rest of their life. How much a coloboma affects a child's vision depends on where in the eye it develops. Don't be sad or panic. Give your child the support, love, and medical advice he or she needs. If you notice any changes or new symptoms in your child's eyes, tell your doctor as soon as you notice them. With proper medical advice and care, your child can be happy too.
` Coloboma, eye diseases, children's vision, genetic diseases, conditions present at birth, iris coloboma, vision problems
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