Leukocoria

Leukocoria
A child with leukocoria due to retinoblastoma in the left eye
Classification and external resources
Specialty
ICD-9-CM	360.44
DiseasesDB	33379
MedlinePlus	003315
Patient UK	Leukocoria

Leukocoria (also leukokoria or white pupillary reflex) is an abnormal white reflection from the retina of the eye. Leukocoria resembles eyeshine, but leukocoria can occur in humans and other 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, 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).

Diagnosis

File:Fundus photograph-normal retina EDA06.JPG

A normal human fundus

A fundus with retinoblastoma

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.

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.

Bryan Shaw helped develop a smart-phone app that can detect leukocoria in photos.

Media depictions

• The fictional serial killer known as "The Collector", the main antagonist of the films The Collector (2009) and The Collection (2012), suffers the condition in both eyes.

External links

• PHPV Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous
• Retinoblastoma MedPix Images