Signs and symptoms

What does retinoblastoma look like?

Spotting one or more of the signs or symptoms of retinoblastoma can be really worrying for any parent or relative. Do remember that retinoblastoma is rare and that all of these symptoms can be caused by other things, but it’s always best to have your child’s eyes checked out by a GP or optician/optometrist in person as soon as possible. Retinoblastoma has one of the best survival rates of all childhood cancers but early diagnosis is really important.

An image showing a white eye in the child's eye which is a symptom of retinoblastoma

White eye or glow

You might see a white glow in the eye, when your child is in artificial light or a darkish room. Some people notice a white reflection in a photo where a flash has been used. This is sometimes described as a ‘cat’s eye’, or a white pupil. This may only be seen once but in some cases it’s present all the time. The medical term for this white eye reflex or reflection is leukocoria.

an image of a child's eye showing a squint which is a symptom of retinoblastoma

Squint, or turn in the eye

A squint, where the eyes do not look in the same direction, can sometimes be a symptom of retinoblastoma. In most cases, it’s nothing serious, but all children should be checked out just in case.

image of a child's eye showing a red and swollen eye which is a symptom of retinoblastoma

Red, sore or swollen eye

Your child’s eye may become very red and inflamed for no obvious reason – and with no sign of infection. This symptom is usually accompanied by one or more of the other signs described here.

a child's eyes, one of which has a different coloured iris to the other which is a possible symptom of retinoblastoma

Change in iris colour

The iris – the coloured part of the eye – can change colour in one eye, sometimes only in one area.

a child's eye, one with a black pupil and one with red which shows the lack of red eye in one eye which is a symptom of retinoblastoma

No red eye

In a photo where one eye has “red eye” (which is normal), the other eye may look black. This can be a sign that something is not right.

an image of a child's eye with a white glow to represent a deterioration of sight

Deterioration in sight

Your child’s vision may begin to deteriorate, or they may have had poor vision from birth. You may notice that they don’t focus, fix and follow as well as other children of the same age.

I’ve seen a white glow in a friend’s photo… Should I say anything?

Seeing a white glow in a photo of someone else’s child can be very worrying – on one hand you don’t want to cause unnecessary concern by speaking up, but on the other hand you don’t want any potential problems to go unnoticed.

We often hear from people who have seen something unusual in a photo of a friend or relative’s child on social media and they are not sure what to do. We would urge you to tell them that you have seen the white reflex and share a link to this page for more information.

What to do next?

If you’ve seen a white glow in your child’s eye, it’s important to get them checked out by a health professional (e.g. GP, optician or optometrist), as soon as possible. Even if you have spoken to someone on the phone, it is important that your child is seen in person, as the healthcare professional will need to examine their eyes carefully. This will be done by carrying out a fundal ‘red’ reflex test, which involves shining a light directly into the eyes. This is not possible on a video call.

Please do remember that retinoblastoma is rare and there could be many other reasons for this showing up, but it’s better to have their eyes examined to rule out anything serious.