Congenital Deformity Types
Congenital Anomolies – Lid Disorders
- Cryptophthalmos
- Congenital Coloboma
- Ankyloblepharon
- Congenital Entropion
- Epiblepharon
- Congenital Tarsal Kink
- Distichiasis
- Euryblepharon
- Epicanthus
- Telecanthus
- Blepharophimosis
- Lipodermoid
Congenital Orbital Conditions
In the human embryo, the eyes are formed by a delicate and complex process. Problems in this process can lead to congenital (present at birth) eye malformations. These conditions are relatively rare, occurring in approximately five per 10,000 live births. Children with these problems need the kind of specialized experience found among the pediatric ophthalmologists at Children’s National Medical Center. Patients are regularly seen at Children’s National for these conditions.
Children’s has a special Ophthalmic Genetics Clinic, headed by Brian P. Brooks, MD, PhD, one of the few physicians nationwide who is board certified both as a pediatric ophthalmologist and a clinical geneticist. Dr. Brooks conducts an active scientific research program on inherited eye diseases at the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
What are congenital/developmental anomalies affecting the eye and orbit?
The human eye forms through a complex program during embryonic development. Problems in this developmental process can lead to congenital eye malformations, such as anophthalmia (no eye), microphthalmia (small eye), coloboma (failure of the optic fissure to close), aniridia (absent or partial iris), and optic nerve hypoplasia (underdeveloped optic nerve).
Congenital Ptosis
Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction (NLDO) is very common in infants.
- Children are frequently born with an obstruction within the “tear duct.” In fact, 6% of all children are born before their tear ducts are open.
- The stagnant tears within the “tear duct” often become infected causing pus (heavy matter) to collect between the eyelids.
- Antibiotics may help some of the symptoms, BUT this is not cure for the blockage
- Such obstructions may resolve spontaneously within the first few months of life. In fact, 95% of these children will show resolution before their first birthday. If it does not resolve surgery may be necessary.
Blockage presents in one of four ways:
- simple obstruction
- congenital fistula (as seen in the photo)
- acute dacryocystitis
- congenital dacryocele or mucocele
Medical Treatment of Congenital Obstructions
- Many of these do open on their own given time.
- Massaging from the tear sac in the may help create a pressure wave that can open the blockage.
