Retina comprises nerve tissues that senses light and send images to our brain through the optic nerves. Retinoblastoma is marked by the formation of cancerous cells in the lining of the retina. Though retinoblastoma usually affects young children below 5 years of age, it can rarely be seen in adults also. Retinoblastoma can affect one eye or both the eyes.
What Causes Retinoblastoma?
Retinoblastoma can occur when retinal nerve cells undergo genetic mutation that causes the healthy cells to divide rapidly and turn cancerous. Retinoblastoma can also be inherited (inherited retinoblastoma).
What are the Symptoms of Retinoblastoma?
Apart from general pain and redness of the eyes, the pupil appears white instead of red when light shines in it. The eyes appear to look in different directions (cross eye appearance). The pupils appear dilated and there is blurred or poor vision.
What are the Treatments of Retinoblastoma?
The treatment of retinoblastoma is dependent on the following factors:
- How far the tumor has spread
- Location and size of tumor
- General health of the child
- How much probability it has to save the vision in one or both eyes.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can be taken in the form of pill or delivered through a vein to kill malignant (cancerous) cells. Chemotherapy can also be used if the tumor has spread to other areas outside the eyeball.
Radiation Therapy: This therapy uses high-energy beams to kill malignant cells. Generally, two types of radiation therapy can be used to treat retinoblastoma. These are brachytherapy (internal radiation) and external beam radiation.
Laser Therapy or Photocoagulation: A powerful beam of light is passed through the pupil to destroy blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor. This can shrink the size of the tumor. Multiple sessions may be needed to kill all the tumorous cells.
Cryotherapy or Cold Treatments: During cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is placed in or around the cancerous cells. After the cells shrink, the cold substance is removed and the cells are allowed to warm up. The alternate process of warming up and freezing is repeated few times each session, resulting in elimination of cancerous cells. Like laser therapy, cryotherapy may require multiple sessions to kill malignant cells completely.
