Retinoblastoma

What is retinoblastoma (RB)?

Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the eye that typically affects children between birth and five years of age. The incidence of RB is one in 15,000 live births, with about 23 children being affected in Canada each year. The retinoblastoma tumour(s) originates in the retina, the light sensitive layer of the eye that enables the eye to see.

What are the signs/symptoms of retinoblastoma?

Parents are often the first to notice the signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma. The most common indicator of RB is whiteness reflected in the pupil of a baby’s eye, particularly noticeable when the pupil is dilated. This is known as leukocoria. One or both of the child’s eyes may turn inward or outward as a result of poor vision in the affected eye. Parents often describe this as lazy eye, crossed eyes, or a wandering eye. The medical name for this is strabismus. More rarely, a child’s RB may be indicated by redness and/or swelling of the eye(s). None of these indicators is conclusive of RB, but if a parent notices these symptoms in their child, a visit to a doctor of optometry or a referral to an ophthalmologist should be sought immediately.

How is retinoblastoma treated?

What treatments are best for retinoblastoma depends on the size and location of the tumour, whether cancer has spread to areas other than the eye and the child’s overall health. Radiation can be used to kill the cancer cells. Internal radiation is achieved by placing a small radioactive disk that is stitched in place near the tumour and left there for several days. This localizes the treatment and avoids damage to other healthy parts of the eye. External radiation is much more invasive and is often reserved for tumours that are non-responsive to other treatments. Laser therapy, cold therapy (cryotherapy) and heat therapy (thermo therapy) can also be used. If the tumour is unresponsive to other treatments or is too large, surgical removal of the tumour, or in some cases the entire eye, may be the only option.

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Please give us a call at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com.

This Health Condition May Afflict Half The World By 2050

Soaring nearsightedness -- driven by staring at computer screens -- "is a true global health crisis."

If you don't already wear eyeglasses, there's a good chance you will by the middle of this century.

A new study predicts that by 2050, 4.8 billion people -- about half the global population -- will be afflicted with nearsightedness, or myopia, a common eye malady that causes distant objects to appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly.

That would be a threefold increase from 2000. Additionally, one out of 10 peopleare predicted to be at risk of blindness.

A likely culprit in the surge in myopia, called shortsightedness in some parts of the world, is the amount of time people are spending inside, staring at computer and cellphone screens, according to the study, published online Feb. 11 in the journal Opthalmology.

Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post Australia in an interview that the prediction should be taken seriously.

"This is a true global health crisis, and is rare in that whether you live in Africa or Australia, it will have a huge consequence," Naidoo said.

The study, led by Brien Holden of the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney,crunched data from 145 studies that included 2.1 million participants. It estimated that by 2050, there will be about 4.8 billion people with myopia (49.8 percent of the world population) -- up from an estimated 1.4 billion (23 percent) in 2000.

The projected increase in nearsightedness, the authors wrote, is "widely considered to be driven by environmental factors (nurture), principally lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near work activities, among other factors." Family history also is a factor.

"Among environmental factors, so-called high-pressure educational systems, especially at very young ages in countries such as Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and China, may be a causative lifestyle change, as may the excessive use of near electronic devices."

Naidoo said there's a simple way to prevent myopia: Go outside.

"Some argue it’s about looking at further distances, and there's some evidence that it’s because of a chemical release in the retina," Naidoo said. "More results are coming in around the globe all the time, but the reality is there is acceptance on the fact that spending two hours or more outside is protective."

Equally as important, Naidoo said in a statement, is that children receive regular eye examinations.

So, put down the phone, head outdoors and look to the horizon. Doctor's orders.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com. 

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