Have you noticed a change in your child’s eyes? Has the iris changed colour? Do you see a white glow in their pupil?
Are they squinting more than usual? Do one or both of their eyes look red, sore and swollen?
If any of these symptoms ring a bell then visit Chase Eyecare for a check-up immediately as your child may have retinoblastoma.
While most of the above symptoms could signal any number of eye conditions, it’s vital that they are checked by a professional optometrist for retinoblastoma as RB is an eye cancer that affects young children, mainly under the age of six. There are between 50 and 60 cases diagnosed in the UK each year – that’s around one a week – so it is fairly rare. Fortunately, survival rates of RB are extremely high. If detected early enough, 98 per cent will emerge unscathed. Parents should be concerned if they spot a white glow in their child’s eye or if they are seen squinting more. It may just be a lazy eye, but it’s better to get it checked out now. Red, puffy eyes should also set the alarm bells ringing, especially if it’s accompanied by one of the other symptoms and is not an infection.
If your child is showing these symptoms then visit Mr Puri at our Cannock branch and he will carry out the red reflex test. This is a painless procedure conducted in a darkened room using a medical torch. Normal vision will be indicated when the colour and brightness of the red reflex is identical in both eyes. If the red reflex is absent of abnormal then this may indicate cataracts of retinoblastoma and an urgent referral will be required. Please remember that on most occasions these symptoms will point to another problem, but it’s vital to get your child checked out ASAP as their vision is vitally important.
If your child is diagnosed with retinoblastoma then there is a number of treatment offers available, ranging from cryotherapy, chemotherapy, laser and enucleation.
For more details regarding retinoblastoma, call us on 01543 570313 at Cannock or 01543 422198 at Hednesford now and our staff will gladly discuss the condition with you.
