Cat's eye syndrome is a type of malformation of the eye, known as coloboma, which causes the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea, to not exist or be altered. This affects the structure that supports the iris and, therefore, its shape is altered, becoming similar to that of a cat, but the ability to see is almost always maintained.
Although this is one of the best known cases, there are other types of changes in the structures of the eye that are included in the group of ocular colobomas, and which include:
- Palpebral coloboma: the baby is born missing a piece of the upper or lower eyelid, but has normal vision; Coloboma of the optic nerve: parts of the optic nerve are missing, which can end up affecting vision or causing blindness; Coloboma of the retina: the retina is poorly developed or has small flaws that affect vision, which can create dark spots in the image seen, for example; Macular coloboma: there is a failure in the development of the central retinal region and, therefore, vision is greatly affected.
In some cases, coloboma can be bilateral and, therefore, affect both eyes, however, the type of coloboma can vary from one eye to the other.
There is still no cure for this type of eye malformation, but the treatment helps to reduce some of the symptoms and improve the person's quality of life.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of coloboma vary according to its type, however, the most common signs are:
- Pupil in the shape of a 'keyhole'; Lack of a piece of the eyelid; Excessive sensitivity to light; Difficulties to see that do not improve with glasses.
In addition, if it is a coloboma of the optic nerve, retina or macula, severe decreases in the ability to see can also appear, and some children may even be born with blindness.
Since these changes are often related to other problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma or nystagmus, for example, the doctor may need to do several tests in the child's eyes to assess whether there are any other problems that need to be treated.
What causes coloboma
Coloboma arises when there is a genetic mutation during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Although this mutation can be passed on from parents to children, there are also many cases where it happens spontaneously, without other cases in the family.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for a coloboma, such as cat's eye syndrome, is only necessary when the change causes difficulty in seeing or some other symptom. Otherwise, the ophthalmologist only schedules appointments every 6 months to assess the development of the eye, at least until 7 years of age.
In cases where treatment is needed, the technique used varies according to the symptom:
- Use of colored contact lenses: they have a painted iris that makes it possible to hide the pupil with a shape similar to that of a cat; Wearing sunglasses or placing filters on home and car windows: they help reduce the amount of light when there is excessive eye sensitivity; Cosmetic surgery: allows you to reconstruct the missing eyelid or permanently restore the shape of the pupil.
When there is a decrease in the ability to see, the ophthalmologist can also try various techniques such as glasses, lenses or even lasik surgery, to try to identify if there is a possibility of improvement in vision.
