A child life specialist uses a toy cat with removable eye to help a young girl receiving chemotherapy cope with eye removal and artificial eyes.

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Know the Glow: Leukocoria – “White Pupil”

The most common and easily recognized early sign of childhood eye cancer, retinoblastoma, is a white glow in the affected eye, like a cat’s eye caught in headlights at night.

“Leukocoria” is the medical term for this white eye reflex. The glow is usually only seen in dim light, or in photographs where a flash has been used without red-eye reduction.

This section answers the most frequently asked questions about leukocoria, and offers advice and information for concerned parents or friends.

A white pupil is clearly visible in this child who has retinoblastoma.

From Our Blog

If In Doubt, Check It Out: Common and Not-So-Common Signs and Symptoms of Retinoblastoma

Prompt investigation of signs and symptoms is vital to diagnose retinoblastoma early. Timely diagnosis provides the best opportunity to save a child’s life and sight. For Retinoblastoma Awareness Week 2022, Rb Care Coordinator Sandra Staffieri explores the signs and symptoms that may lead to a diagnosis of childhood eye cancer.

When ‘Something’ Looks the Same As ‘Nothing’: Strabismus, Leukocoria and Childhood Eye Cancer

Strabismus (turned eye) and leukocoria (white pupil), the most common signs of retinoblastoma, can also occur in healthy eyes. Sandra Staffieri, Retinoblastoma Care Co-ordinator at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, examines both and answers the key question – when should parents and doctors be concerned?

If You Tell Them, They Will Know: raising awareness of retinoblastoma signs can save lives, eyes and sight.

Strabismus (turned eye) and leukocoria (white pupil) are the most common early signs of retinoblastoma. Sandra Staffieri, Rb Care Co-ordinator at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, explores why parent and healthcare provider awareness of these signs is vital to early diagnosis of childhood eye cancer.

From CRADLE to Care: Your Photos Can Help Scientists Build an App for Parents to Diagnose Serious Child Eye Disease Early.

A White pupil is the most common early sign of eye cancer in young children, and it’s usually seen first in photos. Do you want to turn your smartphone into a powerful cancer-detector? Mark Billings, WE C Hope USA Director, tells the story behind the CRADLE app and explains how you can help scientists improve it.

Eye of the Storm: the impact of ‘not knowing’ on mental health

Sandra Staffieri, Rb Care Coordinator at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, highlights the importance of raising awareness among parents, caregivers, health professionals and survivors; and how lack of knowledge and delayed diagnosis can impact children, parents, and adults with second cancer risk.

How Do We Achieve Early Diagnosis of Retinoblastoma?

Retinoblastoma specialists agree that early diagnosis of eye cancer is a child’s best hope of survival, retaining some vision or their eye. Yet around the world, thousands of children die, and more than half of children who are cured lose at least one eye. We consider the potential and limitations of six solutions to improve early diagnosis.

Retinoblastoma Awareness, Screening and Early Detection at One Rb World

Retinoblastoma awareness is the vital first step to cure! Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes for children, with less intense treatment. Sessions at every One Rb World explore how we can best raise parent, public and medical community awareness of common first signs, and develop effective screening for early detection. Here, we share sessions from the 2017, 2020, and 2021 meetings.

10 Ways to Love Your Eyes

Published in 2021 for World Sight Day’s global campaign: “Love Your Eyes”. The International Association for the Prevention of Blindness encourages us to prevent eye disease with a healthy lifestyle, protect our eyes with small daily actions, preserve vision with regular eye exams, and prioritize eye health. Here are 10 ways you can love your eyes every day.