Symptoms of retinoblastoma

Last medical review:

The most common sign of retinoblastoma is a white reflection, glare or glow in the pupil when exposed to light, such as in a photograph taken with a flash. This is called leukocoria or cat’s eye reflex.

Other signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma include:

  • eyes that are crossed or donʼt appear to look in the same direction (called strabismus)
  • redness and inflammation of the white part of the eye (the sclera)
  • blurred vision
  • eye pain
  • squinting
  • an enlarged eyeball
  • bulging of the eye out of the eye socket (called proptosis)
  • irises that are different colours or have colour variation in the same iris (called heterochromia)
  • discolouration of the iris due to abnormal growth of blood vessels around the iris
  • increased pressure in the eye (called glaucoma) that can lead to blindness
  • uncontrollable movement of the eye from side to side

Expert review and references

  • Stephanie Kletke, MD, FRCSC
  • American Cancer Society. Retinoblastoma. 2018. https://www.cancer.org/.
  • Cancer Research UK. Retinoblastoma. 2024. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/.
  • Choudhary MM, Singh AD. Ophthalmic cancers. Raghavan D, Ahluwalia MS, Blanke CD, et al, eds.. Textbook of Uncommon Cancers. 5th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell; 2017: Kindle version chapter 68 https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B06XKD44V3&_encoding=UTF8&ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_pbcb_rnvc00.
  • Leahey AM, Gombos DS, Chevez-Barrios P. Retinoblastoma. Blaney SM, Adamson PC, Helman LJ (eds.). Pizzo and Pollack's Pediatric Oncology. 8th ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2021: Kindle version, [chapter 32] https://read.amazon.ca/?asin=B08DVWZNVP&language=en-CA.
  • Mallipatna AC, Gallie BL, Chévez-Barrios P, et al. Retinoblastoma. Amin, MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 68:827–839.
  • PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. Retinoblastoma Treatment (PDQ®) – Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/.
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Retinoblastoma. 2024. https://together.stjude.org/en-us/.

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