The Eye Test, known as the red reflex test, carried out in the maternity ward, up to 72 hours of the baby’s life, is the first test that helps in the early detection of eye diseases that can affect children. Among these diseases is retinoblastoma, a rare type of primary malignant intraocular tumor, or eye cancer, of genetic origin, more common among children up to 5 years of age. It originates from cells in the retina and can affect one eye (unilateral) or both. It is estimated that, per year, about 6,000 children in the world are affected by this disease. 
The alert was given today (30), in a joint note, signed by the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) and the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology (SBOP). Yesterday (29), journalist Tiago Leifert and his wife Daiana Garbin announced that their 1-year-old daughter has the disease and alerted her parents.
“We regret what happened and we stand in solidarity with this family to help with whatever it takes. However, our entities understand that the discussion on the subject, which has grown in recent hours, must be guided by reliable knowledge, with scientific and relevant validity. At times like these, information gaps can open space for distortions that prevent access to understanding how retinoblastoma manifests itself, can be diagnosed and should be treated”, highlighted the president of the CBO, Cristiano Caixeta Umbelino.
According to him, parents and guardians should opt for the care of specialized doctors, such as ophthalmologists, since treatments such as ‘self-healing’ (self-healing) or the practice of eye exercises, “have no scientific proof and, therefore, do not serve to cure retinoblastoma or any other disease that affects the vision apparatus”, such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal diseases, among others. In Umbelino’s assessment, these approaches can delay the start of correct treatments, with the chance of partially or totally compromising the patient’s vision and even the patient’s life, in case of tumors.
complete exams
The CBO and SBOP recommended that the Eye Test should be repeated by the pediatrician at least three times a year, during the first three years of the child’s life. Babies aged 6 to 12 months must undergo a complete eye exam, and later, between 3 and 5 years of age, they must undergo a second similar evaluation.
The president of SBOP, Luísa Hopker, said that complete eye exams are essential for detecting conditions that affect children’s eye health.
“In case of suspicion, in the office, the patient undergoes an ophthalmological examination with a dilated pupil. If necessary, another test is performed, under sedation, in the operating room. Ocular ultrasound should be performed and may show intralesional bright spots consistent with calcium. CT scans can also show calcifications when ultrasound is not available. Cranial resonance is necessary to perform the staging of the tumor”, he explained.
Treatment for retinoblastoma depends on several factors, including the location and size of the tumor, spread beyond the eye, and the possibility of preserving vision. Different procedures can be adopted, including chemotherapy (intravenous, intra-arterial, periocular and intraocular), focal therapy and surgical methods. Luísa reported that in recent decades, retinoblastoma treatment techniques have shown considerable advances, with cure rates above 95%, once appropriate treatment is adopted.
early diagnosis
Early diagnosis is very important, in the assessment of the presidents of the CBO and SBOP. The president of SBOP said that the therapeutic treatment is individual, adapted to each case and based on aspects such as laterality, location and size of the primary tumor, presence of metastases and estimated visual prognosis.
Parents and guardians should be aware of some signs that may indicate the presence of retinoblastoma, among them, an alteration in the red reflex of the eyes, observed in photographs and characterized by a white reflex in the pupil, called the cat’s eye reflex. This whitish spot is called leukocoria and can block light. Strabismus can also be associated with retinoblastoma.
According to experts, this disease is associated with a genetic abnormality on chromosome number 13. Only 10% of patients have a family member with retinoblastoma, and 40% manifest an inherited genetic form of the tumor, even though no one else in the family has the disease. problem. In most cases, around 90%, retinoblastoma appears suddenly, without any associated event and without warning, and is not associated with external factors from the parents, such as smoking, drinking, etc.
Further information about retinoblastoma can be obtained from SBOP website.
