What Is Retinoblastoma ?

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that begins in the retina, the layer of light-sensing cells lining the back of your eye that converts light rays into impulses. The impulses are sent through the optic nerve to your brain, where they are recognized as images.

Retinoblastoma, which can occur in one or both eyes, usually affects young children, but can infrequently occur in adults.

Retinoblastoma Causes:

Retinoblastoma occurs when retinal nerve cells genetically mutate, causing them to grow and multiply, eventually forming a tumor. These cells usually spread into the eye and nearby structures, and can also spread to other areas of the body (metastasize), including the brain and spine.

It is usually not known what causes the genetic mutations that lead to retinoblastoma; however, children may inherit a genetic mutation from their parents. Children with hereditary retinoblastoma tend to develop it at an earlier age, and it usually occurs in both eyes.

Retinoblastoma Symptoms:

With retinoblastoma, you may notice a white color in the pupil when light is shining in the eye (with flash photography, for instance). Other signs of retinoblastoma may include eyes that appear to be looking in different directions, eye redness or swelling of the eye.

If you notice anything concerning about your child's eyes, call your child's doctor right away. If you have a family history of retinoblastoma, ask your pediatrician about regular eye exams to screen for retinoblastoma.