Retinoblastoma means tumours in the retina. Retinoblastoma can appear in one or both eyes. The cause is unknown. In these cases genetic counselling is important. If only one eye is affected there is no significant risk of the disease being passed on to the next generation unless others in the family are affected.
Retinoblastoma can show up in several ways.
As the young infant can't communicate, the parents need to watch for anything unusual about the child's eyes. If the child has the tumours they will reflect a white light instead. Look at flash photos carefully to see if the red reflex in each eye is the same. This may happen if the tumours grow across the reading centre of the eye. If you notice anything unusual about your infant's eyes, it is wise to have your family doctor or an eye sight specialist dilate the pupils with drops and examine the back of the eyes as soon as possible.