Procedure Description:

Iris Implant (Eye color change surgery)

The purpose of this operation is to assist those who have damaged or missing irises. Your cornea, or the clear layer in front of your iris, is sliced open by an eye surgeon, who then inserts a colored silicone implant.

Disease Overview:

Aniridia

Babies with a disease called erythropia are born without irises, the colorful portion of the eye. A portion of an iris may be present in some newborns with aniridia, while others may not have any iris at all. Aniridia will impair your baby's vision and may result in additional problems with their eyes later in life, regardless of the extent of the missing irises. When your baby is delivered, your healthcare professional will most likely be able to diagnose them with aniridia. Throughout their lives, your child will require routine eye checkups to keep an eye on the condition of their eyes.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

Aniridia symptoms include missing irises in addition to the following: 

1- Eye ache.

2. Low vision.

3. Sensitivity to light.

4. Partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes.

Disease Causes:

A hereditary condition called irisidia affects a developing baby's eyes during pregnancy.

Genetic illnesses are caused by either having an incorrect quantity of genetic information in your body or a mutation, which is a damaging modification to a gene. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the building block of genes and contains instructions on how cells should work as well as the personal traits that define you.

The PAX6 gene, which forms your baby's eyes as well as some of their brain, spinal cord, and pancreas, is the site of the mutation that causes aniridia. Aniridia is typically caused by a mutation that manifests between week 12 and week 14 of pregnancy.

Disease Diagnosis:

Aniridia is what your doctor will diagnose after your kid is born. Your baby's eyes should be able to show you where the irises are missing. See your healthcare practitioner about genetic screening if you're worried about your child's propensity for aniridia or other hereditary problems. Your doctor will determine the likelihood that your child has a genetic condition by testing a sample of your blood. Additionally, they might do an amniocentesis, which involves taking a tiny sample of amniotic fluid from the sac enclosing your unborn child and testing it.

Disease Treatment:

The goal of treating aniridia is often to preserve or enhance your child's vision.

Regular eye exams and consultations with an eye care specialist are required for your youngster. It is likely that your provider can avoid symptoms or complications if they identify abnormalities in your child's eyes earlier.

Your child may require several therapies, depending on the extent of missing irises. These treatments could include:

Contact lenses or spectacles: Your child's eyesight can be improved by wearing glasses or contact lenses, just like anyone else with vision problems. Children with aniridia may choose to cover their pupils and lessen their sensitivity to light by donning customized colored contacts that resemble iris shapes.

Medication: Your doctor may recommend medicated eye drops, artificial tears, or other medications if your child develops glaucoma or corneal problems.

Surgery: If a child develops cataracts, they may need to be removed surgically.