Red Eye Reflex - Congenital Cataract

Another sign of cataracts is the absence of a red eye reflex.  It is exactly as it sounds.  When you take a picture of your child with a camera that allows red eye to show up, both eyes should have red eye.  If an eye lacks the red eye look in pictures, or if the red eye looks different between the eyes, then there could be an abnormality.

Red eye reflex should be screened for by a family physician at regular visits during a child's early months of life.  The earlier an identification of an abnormality in a child's eye the more promising the visual outcome will be.

The picture below shows M the morning of her cataract removal surgery.  M's left eye shows the red pupil, whereas her right eye shows no red in it.  Her left eye exhibits this red eye response, which is what is supposed to happen when there is no cataract there.  Her right eye does not show any red because it has the cataract in it.

M's left eye is clearly showing a red eye reflex, by appearing red in this photo.  There is no red in her right eye because it has the cataract.

All infants are supposed to be screened for a red eye reflex within the first 2 months of life, and thereafter.  It's supposed to be performed by someone who is trained to do that (could be a family physician, pediatrician) and is supposed to be in a darkened room.  Just ask your physician if they are looking for it - at least then they'll know that they should if they haven't or be able to tell you what they are looking for if they are doing it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has an article online: Red Reflex Examination in Infants.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/109/5/980.full

It gives a brief outline on what should be done by physicians when examining infants for the red eye reflex.