Retinoblastoma is the leading cause of malignant eye cancer in children. It develops in the back of the eye in very young infants under three years of age, and is potentially life-threatening if it spreads to the rest of the child’s body. The early symptom of eye cancer is the white shining glow inside the child’s eye that can be seen in room light: the eye glints like a cat’s eye glowing in the dark. This shining eye, which informs the world that the child needs urgent medical-surgical treatment for retinoblastoma, is termed ‘leucocoria’ or ‘white reflex’.
Currently in India, 1400 - 2200 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma eye cancer every year, but less than 1000 receive treatment. Retinoblastoma comprises 3% of all childhood cancers, but the good news is that timely treatment can help save over 95% of children with the disease. Timely treatment can also save the child’s vision in 75% of cases. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Swathi Kaliki, Consultant - Orbit and Ocular Oncology Services said, “The lives of children with advanced retinoblastoma can now be saved with a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. LVPEI is well-equipped with world-class doctors and facilities to successfully treat cases of early or advanced retinoblastoma.”
LVPEI sees around 200-250 Retinoblastoma patients per year, which makes it the highest referral centre for Retinoblastoma. Approximately half the patients are treated free of cost, owing to their poor socio-economic status. About 30% of LVPEI’s patients come from across the border, predominantly from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, the Middle-East, and Nigeria.
Five Facts on Retinoblastoma
· Each year, more than 1500 new cases are diagnosed in India.
· 75% of the children have retinoblastoma in one eye. If the child is examined early by an eye doctor and referred to an eye cancer specialist for treatment, then the cancer can be controlled and the child’s life can be saved.
· The eye cancer specialist treats retinoblastoma by chemoreduction, focal therapy, plaque brachytherapy, or external beam radiotherapy, focusing on saving the child’s life, salvaging the eye ball and protecting the vision.
· Treatment ensures 95% of the children are saved from death and 85% have their eye ball intact and 75% have their vision protected. The rate of tumour control using plaque brachytherapy is 80-90% in Retinoblastoma.
· To save the child’s life and prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body, the eye ball may have to be removed. It is possible then, to fit an artificial eye on the child to ensure normal cosmetic appearance.
About L V Prasad Eye Institute: The L V Prasad Eye Institute provides high quality comprehensive eye care to all people; provides sight enhancement and rehabilitation services at the Institute and through its rural eye health network; offers professional ophthalmic training at all levels; and conducts cutting-edge eye care research. The Institute is a World Health Organization (WHO) Center for the Prevention of Blindness and a Global Resource Center for VISION 2020, a worldwide initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness led by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. For further information, visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org
