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Coloboma, popularly known as cat's eye syndrome, is a type of malformation of the eye in which there is a change in the structure of the eye, which may affect the eyelid or the iris, so that the eye may look similar to that of a cat, however vision is almost always maintained.
Although coloboma is more frequent in one eye, it can also be bilateral, in some cases, affecting both eyes, however the type of coloboma can vary from one eye to the other. There is still no cure for this type of disorder, but the treatment helps to reduce some of the symptoms and improve the person's quality of life.
Types of coloboma
Coloboma can happen due to a random genetic mutation that can be hereditary or happen spontaneously without other cases in the family. However, most cases of coloboma happen as a consequence of changes during the period of embryogenesis of pregnancy.
According to the structure of the affected eye, coloboma can be classified into several types, the main ones being:
- Palpebral coloboma: the baby is born missing a piece of the upper or lower eyelid, but has normal vision;
- Optic nerve coloboma: parts of the optic nerve are missing, which can end up affecting vision or causing blindness;
- Coloboma of the retina: the retina is poorly developed or has small flaws that affect vision, which can create dark spots in the image seen, for example;
- Macular coloboma: there is a failure in the development of the central retinal region and, therefore, vision is greatly affected.
Although there are several types of coloboma, the most common is the iris, in which the iris is shaped differently from the common, being similar to a cat's eye.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of coloboma vary according to its type, however, the most common signs and symptoms are:
- Pupil in the form of a 'keyhole';
- Lack of a piece of the eyelid;
- Excessive sensitivity to light;
- Difficulties to see that do not improve with glasses.
In addition, if it is a coloboma of the optic nerve, retina or macula, severe decreases in the ability to see can also appear, and some children may even be born with blindness.
Since these changes are often related to other problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma or nystagmus, for example, the doctor may need to do several tests in the child's eyes to assess whether there are any other problems that need to be treated.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for coloboma is only necessary when the change causes difficulty in seeing or some other symptom. Otherwise, the ophthalmologist only schedules appointments every 6 months to assess the development of the eye, at least until 7 years of age.
In cases where treatment is needed, the technique used varies according to the symptom and may be indicated:
- Use of colored contact lenses: they have a painted iris that makes it possible to hide the pupil with a shape similar to that of a cat;
- Wearing sunglasses or placing filters on home and car windows: they help reduce the amount of light when there is excessive eye sensitivity;
- Cosmetic surgery: allows you to reconstruct the missing eyelid or permanently restore the shape of the pupil.
When there is a decrease in the ability to see, the ophthalmologist can also try various techniques such as glasses, lenses or even lasik surgery, to try to identify if there is a possibility of improvement in vision.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team