Aug 11, 2005 11:57 pm US/Central
Saving Vision: Saving Lives
Retinoblastoma Is An Eye Cancer That Kills If Not Found Early Enough
by Mary Ann Childers
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
An estimated one in every 700 births has an eye disease that could cause blindness -- or worse -- if not treated. As Medical Editor Mary Ann Childers reports, one clue to detection may be in a snapshot.
We've all seen red eye pictures when the retina reflects the flash. But have you ever seen one where one of the retinas looks white? If so, you may have taken a picture of an eye disease.
"It was the tumor reflecting the light blocking the retina from reflecting red, and I couldn't believe it," said Pam Bergsma.
Bergsma's grandson, Joey, had retinoblastoma, a pediatric eye cancer that could have been found almost a year earlier if he'd had an eye exam with an instrument called a direct ophalmascope.
Bergsma was stunned to learn Joey was never examined. And that in many cases, doctors don't turn off the lights so the eye can fully dilate despite the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"To really get the best look at the back of the eye, the lights need to be as dim as possible," said Jeff Mjaanes at Rush University Medical Center.
Retinoblastoma can often be cured if it's found early. But if it spreads, it's fatal. Joey Bergsma died at age three.
"I promised my grandson before he died that I knew why he came and I would fix it," Bergsma said.
She has been crusading for laws to mandate infant and well-baby eye exams in dark rooms and with eye drops to insure dilation. She's been at it now for over four years.
"I never dreamed that it would take longer than his life experience. I thought surely by now we would be looking in our children's eyes in the United States," Bergsma said.
The Newborn Eye Pathology Act passed in June in Springfield, which establishes an advisory committee to look into changing the requirements for infant eye exams. It also requires reporting to department of public health any eye problems in newborns.
If many of the eye diseases could be caught by turning off the lights, why don't more pediatricians do it?
Some say they don't have time. Others say if you can check with the lights on, why turn them off? As for eye drops, pediatricians argue that they're not trained to use those drops.
For more information:Pam Bergsma
561-586-2094
www.lovejoey.com
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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