Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye that originates in the retina, the light-sensing layer of cells located at the back of the eye. It is the most prevalent childhood eye cancer, affecting one or both eyes.
At ILS Hospitals, treatment for retinoblastoma is personalized, offering a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, laser therapy, and cryotherapy. Our expert oncologists and ophthalmologists use advanced diagnostic tools like fundus examination, ultrasound, and MRI to accurately diagnose and stage retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer primarily affecting children. Based on the tumor’s size, location, and stage, we develop individualized treatment plans to preserve vision, prevent metastasis, and improve survival rates. We provide compassionate, multidisciplinary care throughout every stage of retinoblastoma treatment.
Symptoms
Because the illness is usually identified before the age of three, children frequently struggle to express their symptoms and experiences. Instead, the signs include noticeable changes in your child’s eye appearance or behaviour. While retinoblastoma often occurs in children before they can speak, some various indications and symptoms can indicate its development, including:
- Eyes that have trouble following movement or don’t follow it at all
- Misaligned eyes (strabismus)
- Pain (it may cause your child to cry more, be fussier than usual, or have difficulty sleeping or feeding)
- Enlarged eye (buphthalmos)
- Bulging eye (proptosis)
- Blood in the front chamber of your eye (hyphema)
- Infection, swelling, or inflammation of the eye or surrounding tissues (orbital cellulitis)
Causes
Retinoblastoma is a malignancy in which retinal cells malfunction and grow uncontrollably. As they do so, they can cause tumors and damage to neighbouring tissues. If they continue to grow unchecked, those defective cells will eventually spread (metastasize) beyond the original tumor, resulting in cancer in other parts of your body. The defect begins in the DNA that is inherited from biological parents.
Diagnosis
Parents (or caretakers) may be the first to notice a white pupil and inform their paediatrician, who can further check for it. The paediatrician can confirm leukocoria through a checkup. Upon detection, the next step is typically an urgent referral to an ophthalmologist or other eye care professional. An eye specialist will examine the interior of the eye to discover if it contains retinoblastoma. For young children, this could entail using medicated drops to dilate their pupils or performing an eye exam under anesthesia. Imaging scans are likely, as they can detect difficult-to-see tumors in the other eye or comparable tumors in the brain.
Imaging scans include:
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Prevention
Prevention of retinoblastoma is limited, especially in non-hereditary cases, which occur spontaneously. For hereditary retinoblastoma, early genetic testing and counseling can help identify at-risk children. Regular eye exams in infants with a family history of eye conditions enable early detection and treatment. While the disease itself may not be preventable, early screening significantly improves outcomes and reduces complications, including vision loss or cancer spread.
