Retinoblastoma? flash on camera?

Question

We have a mobile phone with a really good flash and the other night we were taking pictures of our tot with the flash in a dark room. We took about 50 pictures.

On about 5 of them one or both eyes were white.Not always the same eye. About 15 had red eye,the rest she either wasnt in direct focus with the phone or the eyes were blue.

I understand that the white eye can signify a tumour in children but she was tested by a ophthalmologist with dilated pupils a few days ago and it was fine. I have already asked this question but was hoping for anyone to tell me if a really bright flash can cause this - or shouldut was a truly be concerned?

Also would an ophthalmologist really be able to tell? This sounds stupid but she turned the lights off and used the dilation drops and used one of those things on her head to look all around the eye, she said she was happy.

Also, would the eyes show as red in between the white ones if she has retinoblastoma?

Answer 1

A dilated exam using a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (that's what the doctor had on her head) would be able to find ANY and ALL retinoblastoma present.  I think you can relax and feel VERY confident that the child does not have retinoblastoma.

Answer 2

The red reflex is that red color you see when you take the picture and the light goes into the eye, hits the retina and is then reflected back out of the eye. It's supposed to be there. If an eye has a red reflex in one picture, and in the next one it doesn't...the reflex is white or absent, that would indicate that the angle of reflection isn't 'right' and you're not getting the reflex... not that there's a tumor.

When we see absence of the red reflex or a white reflex, sometimes it can indicate that there's a tumor large enough to stop the reflex. When looking back there, one sees a LARGE tumor or round cyst like thing. Once that's seen, then other studies are done such as ultrasound and angiograms to see if it's hollow like a cyst, or solid, is full of blood vessels such as a hemangioma, or ?. Some parasites can get in there and grow large cyst like tumors. They aren't retinoblastomas, just cysts and removing them isn't really all that difficult.

The white reflex is an indication that the light bounced off the surface of the lens or cornea and came back at the camera, that's all.

Answer 3

I concur with yagman and Paul MB

Answer 4

All the other answerer's are correct. If your child had retinoblastoma the ophthalmologist would have seen it and all the photos would have white reflexes and it would not alternate, it would always be the same eye. You may even be able to see a white pupil with the naked eye too.

A very bright flash can make the pupil look white, it depends where the person is looking.

Don't worry, get your child regularly checked and if you notice anything unusual get it checked.

:)