Coloboma
Coloboma
You may of never heard of the word Coloboma.
Well neither did we till our daughter was diagnosed with it.
This special page with tell you things about coloboma.
- Coloboma--A congenitial anomaly in which a portion of a structure of the eye
is absent,usually the iris,retina and/or optic nerve.
The term coloboma implies the absence of a tissue.
- Typical coloboma usually occurs in the 4th to 6th week of gestation.
- Iris Coloboma--may be in one(unilateral) or both(bilateral).
Pupil may be described as an upside down pear shape.
- Optic Disc Coloboma--occurs when the coloboma covers the optic nerve.
May involve the macula.
- Retinal Coloboma-- a notch or cleft of the retina.(part of the retina is missing)
The first 3 months of pregnancy is when the eyes develope at a quick rate.
It starts as a small bud which then sprouts out and the inside of the eyes can be formed and nourished.
When the development is complete, the gap is closed and a normal eye is there.
In some cases however, the gap does not close or closes only partially and these gaps will remain throughout life.
This gap is coloboma.
There is no hole in the eye, but certain structures within the eye did not fully form.
In the case of our daughter Carleigh she has bilateral coloboma of the iris
and the retina and of the optic nerve in her right eye only.
Coloboma of the iris has left her pupils
to give an appearance of a keyhole in the pupil.
She is legally blind in her right eye.
Her left eye has minimal vision in it.
She tends to bump into things.
Carleigh has no depth perception.
So sometimes it takes untill she bumps into
things to realize it is there.
Carleigh glasses now have a slight perscription to
them for nearsightedness. Her left lense has little
power to them.
She also has sunglasses that she wears outside.
She is very light sensitive. We are going
through phases now.
Some days we go in the car and she's fine. Other days she screams the
whole car ride. I have not yet been able to get
her to keep her sunglasses on in the car.
Carleigh Marie sees her eye dr. every six months for
regular check ups.
We are hoping to get her in to see a low vision doctor
to find out what exactly she sees.
I have been doing this webpage and talking with other
Coloboma moms & dads and even some people with coloboma since March of 1999 when Carleigh
was diagnosed with it. And I have some things to tell
parents who have just found out their child has coloboma:
1. Slow Down and Breath
2.There are others out there. You are not alone.
3. Every coloboma child is a different case.
PLEASE don't just think the worse because
someone elses child may have it more servere then others.
4. Find yourself a GOOD eye dr. Ask if they've seen coloboma before.
Most important:
It was not your fault, you did nothing.
Coloboma is still trying to be figured out on why it even happens.
And also talk with other coloboma familes.
Everyone I have come across has been very helpfull and supportive.
Remember you are not alone!
E-mail My Mommy
WHERE TO NEXT?
USE THE DROP DOWN MENU !!!
