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Leukocoria

AI overview

Leukocoria (also white pupillary reflex ) is an abnormal white reflection from the retina of the eye.

Key points
  • It is a medical sign for various conditions including Coats disease, congenital cataract, and retinoblastoma.
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    Leukocoria is a medical sign for a number of conditions, including Coats disease , congenital cataract , corneal scarring , melanoma of the ciliary body , [ 2 ] Norrie disease , ocular toxocariasis , persistence of the tunica vasculosa lentis (PFV/PHPV), retinoblastoma , and retrolental fibroplasia
  • It can occur in animals that lack eyeshine due to the absence of a tapetum lucidum.
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    leukocoria can also occur in animals that lack eyeshine because their retina lacks a tapetum lucidum
  • In rare cases, it is caused by Coats' disease involving leaking retinal vessels.
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    In some rare cases (1%) the leukocoria is caused by Coats' disease (leaking retinal vessels).
Symptoms
  • Presents as an abnormal white reflection from the retina.
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    abnormal white reflection from the retina of the eye
  • Can cause a bright white reflection in an affected eye on flash photographs.
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    leukocoria can cause a bright white reflection in an affected eye
Diagnosis
  • Can be detected by a routine eye exam such as ophthalmoscopy.
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    Leukocoria can be detected by a routine eye exam (see Ophthalmoscopy )
  • The red reflex test is used for screening, where a white reflection indicates leukocoria.
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    For screening purposes, the red reflex test is used.
  • May appear in low indirect light, similar to eyeshine.
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    Leukocoria may appear also in low indirect light, similar to eyeshine.
Red flags
  • Retinoblastoma, a potentially life-threatening cancer, is usually considered during evaluation.
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    Because of the potentially life-threatening nature of retinoblastoma , a cancer , that condition is usually considered in the evaluation of leukocoria.
AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Leukocoria”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Leukocoria
Other namesLeucocoria,[1] white pupillary reflex
A child with leukocoria due to retinoblastoma in the left eye
SpecialtyOphthalmology, pediatrics

Leukocoria (also white pupillary reflex) is an abnormal white reflection from the retina of the eye. Leukocoria resembles eyeshine, but leukocoria can also occur in animals that lack eyeshine because their retina lacks a tapetum lucidum.

Leukocoria is a medical sign for a number of conditions, including Coats disease, congenital cataract, corneal scarring, melanoma of the ciliary body,[2] Norrie disease, ocular toxocariasis, persistence of the tunica vasculosa lentis (PFV/PHPV), retinoblastoma, and retrolental fibroplasia.

Because of the potentially life-threatening nature of retinoblastoma, a cancer, that condition is usually considered in the evaluation of leukocoria. In some rare cases (1%) the leukocoria is caused by Coats' disease (leaking retinal vessels).

On photographs taken using a flash, instead of the familiar red-eye effect, leukocoria can cause a bright white reflection in an affected eye. Leukocoria may appear also in low indirect light, similar to eyeshine. [citation needed]

Leukocoria can be detected by a routine eye exam (see Ophthalmoscopy). For screening purposes, the red reflex test is used. In this test, when a light is shone briefly through the pupil, an orange red reflection is normal. A white reflection is leukocoria.[citation needed]

  • The fictional serial killer known as "The Collector", the main antagonist of the films The Collector (2009) and The Collection (2012), had the condition in both eyes. (confirmed by first movie actor Juan Fernández de Alarcon)

  1. thefreedictionary.com
  2. Demirci H, Shields CL, Shields JA, Honavar SG, Eagle RC (January 2001). "Leucocoria as the presenting sign of a ciliary body melanoma in a child". The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 85 (1): 115–6. doi:10.1136/bjo.85.1.110f. PMC 1723667. PMID 11201946.