by Administrator
14. June 2010 13:18
Derived from a Greek word, Coloboma means “curtailed” and is used to describe the eye problem which is caused by missing tissue inside or around the eye. There are various kinds of Coloboma that affect different parts of the eye, mainly including:
- Eyelid – This kind of Coloboma happens when a piece of the upper or lower eyelid is missing. Usually, eyelid Coloboma is a genetic problem or caused by underdeveloped eyelids in a baby.
- Macula – Located at the center of the eye, the macula may have Coloboma when it does not develop normally. Interruption in normal eye development in a baby or inflammation in the retina may be followed by this disorder.
- Lens – When a piece of the lens is absent in your eye, it can lead to Coloboma. This means that your vision will be unclear as the lens will not focus light on the retina properly.
- Optic nerve – Coloboma of the optic nerve may be caused by an abnormal optic nerve that is deeply hollow. Another reason for this eye problem may be a uveal Coloboma that extends to the optic nerve.
- Uvea – Alos known as Iris Coloboma, this condition occurs when the retina in the lower insider corner is missing. This gives a cat eye appearance to the iris.
In terms of demographics, Coloboma is an eye disease that is found in about one in 10,000 births. Common reasons for its occurrence include genetic problems, eye surgery or trauma.
Symptoms of Coloboma
People who have Coloboma experience reduced vision. The extent of vision impairment depends on the size of Coloboma and the impact on macula and optic nerve. In certain cases, it appears as a black indentation at the pupil’s edge while in other patients, it forms a split in the iris from the pupil to the edge of the iris. Apart from blurred vision, Coloboma leads to the appearance of a hole or odd-shaped pupil.
Diagnosis of Coloboma
A professional optometrist will diagnose whether an individual has Coloboma or not. This involves a physical exam and a detailed eye checkup by an optometrist. The symptoms, effected eye area and size of darkened area in the eye will be observed to know the kind and level of Coloboma. Several procedures like visual acuity test and refraction test may also be conducted.
Treatment Options
With no specific treatment for this problem, doctors can recommend corrective procedures for vision improvement. The use of cosmetic contact lenses, eye patches and personalized sunglasses can help in dealing with the symptoms.
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