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Anophthalmia/Microphthalmia

Anophthalmia and microphthalmia are disorders that affect eye development before birth. Microphthalmia is a birth defect in which one or both eyes do not develop fully and are abnormally small. Anophthalmia is a more severe birth defect in which one or both eyes do not form at all. While people who have anophthalmia have no vision in the affected eye, people who have microphthalmia may or may not have significant vision loss. Because both conditions are characterised by impaired eye development, anophthalmia and microphthalmia are often considered to be related disorders (anophthalmia/microphthalmia).

Descripción

Anophthalmia and microphthalmia are disorders that affect eye development before birth. Microphthalmia is a birth defect in which one or both eyes do not develop fully and are abnormally small. Anophthalmia is a more severe birth defect in which one or both eyes do not form at all. While people who have anophthalmia have no vision in the affected eye, people who have microphthalmia may or may not have significant vision loss. Because both conditions are characterised by impaired eye development, anophthalmia and microphthalmia are often considered to be related disorders (anophthalmia/microphthalmia).

Anophthalmia and microphthalmia can occur along with other eye abnormalities. People who have one missing eye (unilateral anophthalmia) can have additional eye abnormalities in the unaffected eye, while people who have microphthalmia can have additional eye abnormalities in one or both eyes (complex microphthalmia). The presence of other eye problems can worsen vision. Additional eye abnormalities can include a missing piece of tissue that may appear as a notch or gap in one of several parts of the eye (coloboma); a clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract); abnormal development of the cells in the retina (retinal dysplasia);  or microcornea, in which the clear front covering of the eye (cornea) is small and abnormally curved.

Some individuals have anophthalmia or microphthalmia as part of a syndrome that affects multiple parts of the body (syndromic anophthalmia or microphthalmia). As many as 45 percent of people with anophthalmia or microphthalmia have the condition as part of a recognized syndrome, such as CHARGE syndrome, Fraser syndrome type 1 or 2, and oculofaciocardiodental syndrome. When people have anophthalmia or microphthalmia but do not have additional abnormalities of the eye or other body systems, this is known as isolated anophthalmia or microphthalmia.

Patrones de herencia

The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: X-linked recessive; Autosomal dominant+New variant; Autosomal recessive; X-linked. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.

Otros nombres

A/M

Anophthalmia

Anophthalmos

Microphthalmia

Microphthalmos

Lecturas adicionales y referencias

Historial del artículo

La información en esta página está escrita y revisada por pares por clínicos calificados.
  • 12 Feb 2026 | Última versión
  • 1 Jul 2025 | Publicado originalmente

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