The coloboma, popularly known as cat’s eye syndrome, is a type of malformation of the eye in which a change in the structure of the eye occurs, which can affect the eyelid or iris, so the eye may resemble that of a cat, however almost always the vision is maintained.
Although coloboma is more common in one eye, it can also be bilateral, in some cases, affecting both eyes, however, the type of coloboma can vary from eye to eye. There is still no cure for this type of disorder, but treatment reduces some of the symptoms and improves a person’s quality of life.
- Coloboma can occur due to a random genetic mutation that can be inherited or occur spontaneously without other cases in the family.
- However.
- Most cases of coloboma occur as a result of changes during the embryogenesis period of pregnancy.
Depending on the structure of the affected eye, the coloboma can be classified into several types, the main being:
Although there are several types of colobomas, the most common is the iris, in which the iris has a different shape to the joint, reseating to the eye of a cat.
Symptoms of coloboma vary by type, however, the most common signs and symptoms are:
In addition, if it is a coloboma of the optic nerve, retina or macula, large decreases in the ability to see may also occur, and even some children may be born with blindness.
Because these changes are often related to other problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or nystagmus, for example, your doctor may need to perform several eye tests to assess for other problems to treat.
Treatment of coloboma is only necessary when the change causes difficulty seeing or other symptoms. Otherwise, the ophthalmologist only schedules appointments every 6 months to evaluate the development of the eye, at least up to 7 years.
In cases where treatment is required, the technique used varies depending on the symptom and may be indicated:
When there is a decrease in the ability to see, the ophthalmologist may also try various techniques such as glasses, lenses or even lasik surgery, to try to identify if there is a possibility of improving vision.