The white spot of the eye, also called leukocoria, appears most often in the pupil and may be a sign of diseases such as retinoblastoma, cataracts or corneal dystrophy, for example.
White spots may be indicative of diseases of the background, lens or cornea and the main causes of staining are:
- Retinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer that can occur in one or both eyes and occurs most often in children.
- This disease can be easily identified by eye test in the maternity ward or during the first consultation with a pediatrician.
- And its main symptoms are difficulty seeing.
- Redness of the eye and strabism.
- In addition to the presence of a white spot in the eye.
What to do: When identified early, retinoblastoma can be treated and leaves no sequelae. Treatment varies depending on the degree of the disease and may be performed with laser or cold application at the site to destroy the tumor, or chemotherapy in the most severe cases. Learn how to identify and treat retinoblastoma.
Cataract is a disease characterized by progressive vision loss, most common in people over the age of 60, due to aging of the lens of the eye. However, it can also occur from birth, called congenital cataract, which is characterized by a crystalline malformation during fetal development, which reaches one or both eyes.
The characteristic sign of the cataract is the presence of a white spot on the pupil that can alter vision, leave it blurred or even cause total loss.
What to do: Treatment should be done as soon as possible to avoid complications, such as total vision loss. This is usually done by surgery to replace the lens. See what cataract surgery looks like.
Toxocarous is an infectious disease caused by the presence of the parasite Toxocara sp. This parasite, when it reaches the eye, can cause redness and white spots in the pupil, pain or itching in the eye and decreased vision. Toxocarous eyes are more common in children who play on the ground, in the sand or on the ground, as this is usually the habitat of the Toxocara. Learn more about toxocrosis.
What to do: Treatment usually involves using corticosteroid eye drops to treat symptoms and prevent disease progression.
The penguin consists of a yellow whitish spot in the eye, triangular in shape, resulting from the growth of a tissue composed of proteins, fat and calcium, located in the conjunctiva of the eye, being more common in the elderly.
What to do: In most cases there is no need for treatment, however, if the person feels discomfort or changes in vision, it may be necessary to use eye drops and ointments or even resort to surgery.
Corneal ulcer is characterized by a sore that appears in the cornea of the eye and causes inflammation, pain, foreign body sensation in the eye, blurred vision and, in some cases, the presence of a small whitish spot in the eye. It is usually caused by an eye infection, minor cuts, dry eyes, or contact with irritants.
What to do: Treatment usually involves the administration of topical or antifungal antibiotics to eliminate a possible infection by bacteria or fungi. In addition, corticosteroid eye drops can also be used to reduce inflammation, prevent scarring in the cornea and relieve discomfort. Learn more about treatment.
It is important to see the ophthalmologist in the presence of the following changes:
By analyzing and assessing symptoms and other additional tests, your eye doctor can diagnose and determine the most appropriate treatment for each situation.