Abnormal blood vessels in the eyes of children can cause serious, irreversible vision loss. Most abnormal vessels aren't visible from outside the eye, and small children can't explain that they can't see, so abnormal blood vessel growth can cause considerable damage before diagnosis. Recognition of diseases that can cause abnormal blood vessel growth can keep parents and doctors vigilant to identify such problems as early as possible.
Types
Several types of diseases with different causes can lead to blood vessel damage in children's eyes. Coat's disease, a disorder of the retinal blood vessels, occurs in children and young adults, males more than females, and affects central vision. Coat's disease affects just one eye 80 percent of the time, the University of Iowa reports. Retinopathy of prematurity occurs most commonly in premature infants. Periocular hemangioma, a non-cancerous growth of elevated dense blood vessels around the eye, can occur behind the eye, around the eye or on the eyelid. Diabetic retinopathy can affect children with diabetes at any age, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia warns.
Symptoms
Symptoms of abnormal blood vessel growth may not be apparent in young children or in early stages of the disease, but with disease progression, vision decreases, particularly central vision. Blurred vision and floaters may also occur. Left untreated, complete blindness in the affected eye can occur.
Diagnosis
Problems with the blood vessels in the eye can be diagnosed through an eye exam using a microscope after dilating the eye with eye drops. Fluorescein angiography--injection of dye that lights up blood vessels in the eye--can also be used to diagnose leaking or blockages in abnormal blood vessels.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Coat's disease is treated by destroying or sealing off the abnormal vessels with lasers, surgery, steroid injections or injection of substances called anti-VEGFs, which block growth of abnormal blood vessels. Lasers, surgery, radiation and steroid injections into the abnormal blood vessels are used to treat periocular hemangiomas. Retinopathy of prematurity is treated with laser or cryotherapy. Diabetic retinopathy is treated with steroid injections, lasers or anti-VEGF treatments.
Prognosis
Vision loss can occur without treatment in any disease that involves abnormal blood vessel formation on the eye. Between 400 and 600 infants each year go blind from retinopathy of prematurity, according to the National Eye Institute, and severe progression of Coat's disease can lead to removal of the eye, known as enucleation, the University of Iowa says. Early diagnosis prevents proliferation and worsening of all the diseases associated with abnormal blood vessel formation. Regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist or retinal specialist is essential when a child has a disease that affects the eyes.
