In one photo, my child has a red reflection on one eye and the other white, what does this mean?

Looking at the last photo taken of your child, you noticed a different reflection on the two eyes: one is red, the other is white. 

Professor Francis Munier, head of the paediatric ocular oncology unit and the oculogenetics unit at the Jules-Gonin Ophthalmic Hospital, explains why it is important to have your child’s visual health checked when you observe this symptom.

Why does a white reflection in my child’s eye call for an urgent appointment with an ophthalmologist?

The observation of a white pupil should always be taken seriously. Its origin can indeed be malformative, infectious or accidental. But it can also have a cancerous origin.

Retinoblastoma, a rare intraocular cancer

Retinoblastoma is indeed a cancerous tumour that is located in the eyeball, more precisely on the retina. It is the only cancer in children that is aesthetically recognisable by a white pupil. It absolutely calls for an urgent consultation with a specialist.

Retinoblastoma has a very good chance of being cured if it is detected early. It usually occurs before the age of 5. This is why it is important for parents to examine the eyes of their children.

If you want to learn more about retinoblastoma, please read the page dedicated to this retinal disease.

What if I detect a whitish reflection in my child’s eye?

We advise you to talk immediately to your paediatrician or ophthalmologist, who will then carry out an examination of the back of the eye and make an accurate diagnosis.

All eye diseases, including retinoblastoma, are treated more easily if they are discovered quickly. Do not discount any symptoms, e.g. visual fatigue, discomfort, blurred vision, inflammatory reactions, headaches, or poor visual acuity. An ophthalmological examination will then detect any eye disorder.

Find out more about children’s eye diseases

You now know why a white reflection in the eyes should be examined by an eye specialist in paediatric ophthalmology.

And if you have questions about other eye disorders, please visit our pages on hyperopia, myopia, diplopia, strabismus, amblyopia, astigmatism, congenital glaucoma or conjunctivitis.