Eye cancer in children

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) has launched a new awareness campaign in support of World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week (May 10–16) to help detect eye cancer in children.

Lesley Cree Opticians is in full support of the campaign after statistics released on 10 May 2015 revealed that less than half of children with eye cancer are referred urgently in line with what is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

CHECT collected data between 2012 –2014, and over this three-year period the figures showed that only 44% of children diagnosed with rare eye cancer, retinoblastoma (Rb), were given an urgent referral when they presented to healthcare professionals.

During this period, families consulted 132 GPs, 21 opticians and 10 health visitors with a child who was later diagnosed with Rb.

It was reported that 100% of opticians who saw a child with Rb referred appropriately, however, problems are still occurring. Whilst Lesley Cree Opticians has the equipment and will happily carry out eye test on children, according to the research, some optical practices are still reluctant to accept small children for examination.

Unfortunately, less than a third (31%) of GPs who saw a child with Rb made an urgent referral and less than half of health visitors appropriately referred a child later diagnosed with Rb.

Rb mainly affects children up to five years old and early detection is crucial for saving the sight and eyes of the child. An estimated 50–60 children are diagnosed with the condition every year.

An intermittent white pupillary reflex, known as leukocoria, is the main symptom of Rb, affecting 65% of cases. A squint is the second most common symptom, present in almost one third of cases (29%).

Commenting, Lesley Cree said: “It is important to ensure all children have a regular eye test with an optician because other health professionals may not be equipped to recognise the signs of retinoblastoma. Rb is rare, and only a small number of children are diagnosed each year, but this is a life-threatening condition so needs early diagnosis and treatment.