Neurofibromatosis in the eye is a condition in which the eyelids become thicker and irregularly shaped because of growth of a neurofibroma.
Children that have neurofibromatosis in the eye are at risk of developing high eye pressure or glaucoma or lazy eye called amblyopia.
Pigmented spots on the iris may also increase in number over time.
Neurofibromatosis in the eye can also impact many different areas of the eye though most are rarer than others.
These conditions include lisch nodules, optic and/or brainstem gliomas, development of glaucoma, astrocytic hamartomas & capillary hemangiomas of the retina, and plexiform neurofibromas.
Lisch nodules are the most common type of ocular involvement in NF-1.
These nodules are melanocytic hamartomas, usually clear yellow to brown, that appear as well-defined, dome-shaped elevations projecting from the surface of the iris.
Optic nerve gliomas are more common in kids who have a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1).
NF1 can cause tumors to form, and optic nerve gliomas occur in about 15 percent of children with this disease.
Treatments for neurofibromatosis in the eye include excision or resection of tumors, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and removal of cataracts.
Removal of neurofibromas may also be an option if they cause significant impairment in one's appearance or quality of life.