Is There a Treatment for Leukocoria?
MAR 10, 2014
Question:
My 3-year-old nephew was diagnosed with cat eye reflex condition and has lost vision completely from his right eye. He was born seven months premature and was in ICU for a few weeks. Is there any treatment or hope that his vision can be cured?
Answer:
I am not absolutely certain what is meant by the term "cat eye reflex condition;" in most circumstances, this means leukocoria or whitening of the pupil. This can be caused by a number of conditions in children: if your nephew has had this condition for several years and was very premature, this most likely is from a total retinal detachment related to retinopathy of prematurity. If this retinal detachment has been present for several years and is advanced enough to cause the cat eye reflex, then retinal surgery is generally not recommended. Hopefully, his condition is much milder in the other eye and he has good visual function.