A two-month-old baby recently traveled to Dubai to receive treatment at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai (AZHD), according to an article in the Khaleej Times. The child, who is from Oman, is impacted by Peters anomaly, a rare ocular condition that affects one in a million. At this hospital, the youngster underwent a pupilloplasty.
Treating Peters Anomaly
When the baby arrived at AZHD, doctors immediately diagnosed the present symptoms as Peters anomaly. Right after this diagnosis, the hospital staff moved forward with treatment. They knew that a corneal transplant, also known as keratoplasty, was the major option used in Peters anomaly treatment. However, they were also aware that this procedure carries a lot of complications and often results in graft failure.
Instead, Dr. Mitra – who was assigned to the baby’s case – opted for a pupilloplasty. This simple surgery aims to change the function or shape of the pupil. Fortunately, the child made an immediate recovery and now has adequate eyesight. Regaining this sense has allowed him to see his parents for the first time.
The thought of a keratoplasty is not completely gone, though. When the child grows older, the risk of postoperative complications falls. This means that he may return for this procedure when he turns 18.
About Peters Anomaly
Peters anomaly is a rare condition that impacts the part of the eye known as the anterior segment. In affected individuals, the anterior segment develops abnormally, leading the cornea to not completely separate from the iris or lens. This results in blurred vision and an opaque cornea. Other possible symptoms include glaucoma, cataracts, lazy eyes, and unusually small eyeballs. A mutated FOXC1, PAX6, PITX2, or CYP1B1 gene causes this condition, and these mutations are typically sporadic. However, if Peters anomaly is inherited, it is passed down in an autosomal recessive pattern. In terms of treatment, monitoring is very important. Doctors should be aware and constantly looking for glaucoma or cataracts. A cornal transplant is the major treatment option, although it carries risk of complications. Doctors may or may not opt for this procedure.
