Have you ever taken a photo of your little baby or a little child you know? Especially when taking a photo with a flashlight in a slightly dark place, you may have noticed that sometimes the black rings of the baby's eyes in that photo look red. Some people also call this "red eye". So you may have wondered, "What is this? Is this normal? Or is it something to be worried about?" That's the answer to that question that we are going to talk about in this article today.
What exactly is this Red Reflex?
Simply put, this red reflex is a completely normal, healthy thing. To be precise, when light hits our eyes, that light goes deep into the eye, hits a membrane at the back of the eye, and is reflected back. That reflected light is what we see as red.
Imagine your eye is like a small room. If you shine a flashlight through the door of that room, the light will hit the wall on the other side of the room and come back out, right? That's what happens here too. The flashlight here is the camera flash. The back wall of the eye is the membrane that contains our retina and the blood vessels that connect to it. This membrane is red because it contains blood.
Pediatricians and pediatricians, like all clinics that monitor a baby's development from the day they are born, test the red reflex. It is a very important part of their routine check-up.
Some doctors prefer to call this the "fundus reflex" rather than the "red reflex." This is because the part of the back of the eye is medically called the "fundus." Also, this reflex may not always be red.
Why doesn't this look red to everyone?
This is a very good question. The color of this reflex can be related to the color of your skin. Simply put, when your skin color is darker, the pigment in the membranes inside the eye can also darken a little. Then the color of the light that comes back changes.
- For people with light skin tones: This reflex is usually red or orange .
- For those with Asian or medium skin tones: This may look orange or yellow .
- For people with dark skin tones: This reflex can also take on a darker color . Sometimes it can even be green or blue.
So don't be surprised if your baby's eyes look orange instead of red in a photo. That's completely normal.
When should we be concerned about this?
This is the most important part of this article. Although the red reflex is usually a healthy sign, if it changes very rarely , it can be a sign of some problem inside the eye. Doctors check this to identify if there is something like that early.
There are a few key changes to note. Let's take a look at them.
| Feature to pay attention to | Simply meaning |
|---|---|
| White vision (Leukocoria) | This is the most dangerous symptom. If the iris of the eye shines white, yellow, or light instead of red, it is called leukocoria. This means that something inside the eye is blocking the light from reflecting. Very rarely, this can be a sign of retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer that occurs in infants. It affects about 1 in 15,000 children. |
| Weakening of the eye reflex | The reflexes in both eyes should be approximately the same. If one eye appears clear and the other appears blurry, that is also something to be concerned about. |
| One eye reflex is absent. | If one eye is glowing red and the other is completely black, that means that there is no reflex in that eye. That could also be a problem. |
But don't get upset after seeing one photo!
Don't panic if you see a difference in your baby's eyes in just one photo. There could be many other reasons for this difference. A doctor will examine this using a special instrument called an ophthalmoscope and look closely. The following reasons could be responsible for seeing a difference in just one photo:
- Angle of the photo: The camera may not capture both eyes at the same angle. This may cause the reflex in one eye to appear correct, while the reflex in the other may appear different.
- Light reflection from the front of the eye: Sometimes light can be reflected from the clear, clear cornea at the front of the eye, appearing as a white spot. This is not a reflex coming from inside the eye.
- Distance: A doctor sees this from a distance of between 1.5 and 3 feet. It won't be as clear in a photo taken from much further away.
The important thing is that if there is a difference, it should be visible in multiple photos taken from different angles . It's usually not a problem if it only appears in one photo.
What should I do if I see something unusual in my baby's eyes?
If you have any doubts, fears, or concerns about your baby's eye reflex, the best thing to do is to follow these steps.
1. Don't panic: First of all, remember that one photo is not proof of anything. Most of the time, it can be due to the camera angle or other common reasons.
2. View/Take More Photos: Look at old photos on your phone. See if you can see the difference in photos taken at different times and from different angles.
3. Talk to the doctor: If you consistently see a white reflex in multiple photos , such as an uneven eye color, call your child's pediatrician and make an appointment. Explain what you've seen to the doctor. Take the photos with you if you can.
4. Don't be afraid of the test: This test, which the doctor performs, only takes a few minutes. It is not painful for the baby. There is no need to put any medicine in the eyes.
5. A specialist: If the doctor has any doubts, he will refer you to an eye surgeon (Ophthalmologist) for further tests.
Can this be checked using phone apps?
These days, there are apps for everything, so you may have this problem. There may be apps that claim to check the red reflex, but most of them are still in the research stage. There is currently no government-approved app for medical use.
So, never rely solely on a phone app. Whether or not an app shows something, if you have any doubts about your baby's eyes, the only place to get them resolved is by seeing a qualified doctor. An app is never a substitute for a doctor.
Take-Home Message
- The fact that children's eyes appear red, orange, or yellow in flash photos, known as the red reflex , is generally a healthy trait.
- This is a very important test to determine the health of a child's eyes during infancy.
- You should only be concerned if the iris of the eye appears white (leukocoria) consistently, in different photos , or if the reflex in the two eyes is uneven.
- Don't panic just because you see one photo. It could be due to other common causes.
- If you have any lingering concerns, do not delay in seeing your child's doctor for advice. A quick check-up can ease your fears and identify any problems early.
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