Definition
Microphthalmia is a congenital malformation of the eye, which is smaller than the norm. The defect can be unilateral or bilateral and is caused by reduced ocular development during intrauterine life.
Regardless of size, the affected eye can be structured in a normal manner, but the visual capacity is usually reduced. Furthermore, microphthalmia may be associated with coloboma (fissuring of the eyelids, iris or retina) or other ocular anomalies (eg cataract).
This malformation of the eyeball can occur in isolated form or can be caused by hereditary factors, as part of different genetic diseases and neurological syndromes. For example, the congenital reduction of the size of the eyeball is frequent in trisomy 13 and may also be secondary to infections contracted during pregnancy (varicella, rubella and toxoplasmosis).
Among the environmental factors that may contribute to determining the onset of microphthalmia are the abuse of alcohol during pregnancy (fetal alcohol syndrome), the exposure of pregnant women to toxic agents and the use of teratogenic drugs (eg thalidomide and warfarin ) pregnant.
Possible Causes * of Microphthalmia
- Fanconi anemia
- Rubella
- Feto-alcohol syndrome
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trisomy 13
- Trisomy 18
- chickenpox
