Anophthalmia

Anophthalmia
Right-sided anophthalmia (MR image)
Pronunciation
  • anoftalama
SpecialtyMedical genetics Edit this on Wikidata
(a) Bilateral anophthalmia. (b) Bilateral microphthalmia. (c) Unilateral anophthalmia with shell (right eye)

Anophthalmia (Greek: ἀνόφθαλμος, "without eye") is the medical term for the absence of one or both eyes. Both the globe and the ocular tissue are missing from the orbit.[1] The absence of the eye will cause a small bony orbit, a constricted mucosal socket, short eyelids, reduced palpebral fissure and malar prominence.[2] Genetic mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and prenatal environment can all cause anophthalmia. Anophthalmia is an extremely rare disease and is mostly rooted in genetic abnormalities. It can also be associated with other syndromes.

  1. ^ "Questions about Anophthalmia". Anophthalmia.org. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  2. ^ Wiese, K. Günter; Vogel, Martin; Guthoff, Rudolf; Gundlach, Karsten K.H. (1999). "Treatment of congenital anophthalmos with self-inflating polymer expanders: A new method". Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. 27 (2): 72–6. doi:10.1016/S1010-5182(99)80016-X. PMID 10342141.