Hoppa till huvudinnehåll

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).

Beskrivning

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.

Inheritance patterns

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.

Other names

A/M

Anophthalmia

Anophthalmos

Microphthalmia

Microphthalmos

Vidare läsning och referenser

Artikelhistorik

Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.
  • 12 feb 2026 | Senaste versionen
  • 1 Jul 2025 | Ursprungligen publicerad

Delta i konversationen

Dela dina tankar eller erfarenheter med andra i vår patientgemenskaper.

Ansvarsfriskrivning: The views expressed in the community do not represent medical advice. For any health concerns, consult your GP or healthcare provider.
influensaberättigandekontroll

Fråga, dela, anslut.

Bläddra i diskussioner, ställ frågor och dela erfarenheter inom hundratals hälsorelaterade ämnen.

Anmäl dig till Patientens nyhetsbrev

Din veckovisa dos av tydliga, pålitliga hälsoråd - skrivna för att hjälpa dig känna dig informerad, självsäker och i kontroll.

Vänligen ange en giltig e-postadress

Genom att prenumerera accepterar du våra Sekretesspolicy. Du kan avsluta prenumerationen när som helst. Vi säljer aldrig dina uppgifter.