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Original poster

Only one red eye in flash photo of DD

18 replies

SlightlyJaded · 06/09/2012 11:09

Have just uploaded our holiday pics and noticed one taken with a flah of my Dd (7) in which one of her pupils is showing proper red eye and one has reflected back white.

I have read stories where this was an indication of a tumour and am now feeling a bit sick. DH thinks its because her head is at an angle and therefore the flash reflected differently on each eye but a bit of me is thinking 'what does he know?'

Have just this minute shown an optician who was very vague and seemed to think I was worried about the red eye Confused. When I said it was the fact that they were different, he didn't really say anything and I felt stupid.

Have foolishly googled and now full of fear.

Does anyone have any knowledge/thoughts/advice?

OP posts:
MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 06/09/2012 11:12

Is it just in one pic or in all of the photos?

It can be a symptom, but very often is just down to the angle that the photograph was taken. I would take her to a different optician and ask them to have a look. Don't be scared to say you are worried, then they can hopefully reassure you (I assume you are worried about retinoblastoma?)

Toughasoldboots · 06/09/2012 11:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RunningOutOfIdeas · 06/09/2012 11:16

If you are not reassured by an optician, I think you should see your GP. They can refer your DD to an opthalmologist.

barleysugar · 06/09/2012 11:19

If its the only photograph which shows it its very unlikely to be sinister.

I saw it in a child once at work and it also showed up under fluorescent light, not just on photos. If you also have several normal photos, I wouldn't be too worried.

Its free to have an eye test at the opticians though so I'd suggest you go anyway.

barleysugar · 06/09/2012 11:20

ETA - I mean a different optician x

TinyDancingHoofer · 06/09/2012 11:25

This is normally because of where the camera flash reflects back from. So a front photo the light would reflect from the black of the eye but if her head is to the side one eye would be reflecting the light back at a diagonal angle. Does that make sense?
I'd only worry if every photo from various angles had this. Also maybe show your daughter rather than the photo to the optician, for your own piece of mind. It is very easy to become worried by little things and there is no harm getting it checked out to avoid worry.

TinyDancingHoofer · 06/09/2012 11:26

*back not black of the eye

sweetheart · 06/09/2012 11:27

I had the exact same problem a couple of years ago. i went through all our other photos and noticed that it had just ahppened to be the way dd was standing in the photo in question.

ImCoveredInBeeeees · 06/09/2012 11:37

You must go to the GP, OP. this can be a sign of a tumour called retinoblastoma. The GP should refer you urgently. It is probably nothing - just the way the light caught her, it does need checking out.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 06/09/2012 12:24

Thanks for all the replies. Especially from those who have had a similar experience

I have been through all our holiday pics and frustratingly it is the only one where there is any red eye / flash reflection at all.

I have booked an appointment for an eye test tomorrow morning - not to test her vision which seems fine, but to have someone in a white coat peer at her eyes properly. Does anyone know whether it would show up at a simple eye test?

I am trying not to worry - she is at an angle but it's so hard not to get the fear.

Also if I wanted to take some pics of her later, what's the best way to guarantee red eye from a flash? Dark room obviously but any other factors to consider?

Thanks again for any replies / thoughts : advice.

OP posts:
GOLDFaverolles · 06/09/2012 12:31

I have a photo of ds3 with one red pupil and one white.
I took him to the opticians, where they checked his red-eye reflex - if there's a tumour, I think it covers the area that shows as red.
We had no need to go to the GP after, he was fine and they were happy to check him.
The optician said she had many children brought in to check this, and in over 20 years as an optician, she had never seen a case of retinoblastoma, so it is rare.
Try not to worry :)

saintlyjimjams · 06/09/2012 12:31

Get it checked out (ask tomorrow and take the photo).

DS3 has a lazy eye which he has to go regularly to the eye hospital for. On one occasion I asked his consultant to check a photo of ds1 which sounds very similar. She looked, asked whether I'd seen it in other photos (no) and immediately said it was fine and was because of the angle.

Hard I know, but try not to worry!

saintlyjimjams · 06/09/2012 12:32

The consultant btw didn't even see ds1 (he's severely autistic and I explained to her that I didn't want to have him examined unless absolutely necessary - he wasn't with me), she was confident enough from the photo to say there was no problem (and it's years later now so I presume she was right!)

barleysugar · 06/09/2012 13:00

To be honest by the time a tumour would be visible on a photograph there would be hardly any vision left, so yes a simple eye test can be all it takes.

Tinkerisdead · 06/09/2012 13:09

Hi i had this with my dd1. We had numerous pictures where only one eye flashed red, the other white. It can be indicative of retinoblastoma but that usually affects babies so thinking positive at 7, you'd have had far mote indication of something wrong.

However, i'll tell you what happens when they check. A simple trip to the gp with check their red reflex(this will have been tested at birth too) my dd had a questionable reflex (9 months old at the time) and so they got five different gp's to check in the surgery! Each one was unsure and so i got an immediate referral to optholomy. They then put fluid in dd's eye to enlarge the pupil and i had to pin her down so they could check her retina fully (cant be done at opticians as they need to dilate the pupil to see all areas) a 7 year old wouldnt need pinning down obviously!

Then they would know. My dd was fine. But even now i cry at the memories as i was petrified. Oh and her pupils stayed huge for hours like the cat off shrek!!

If you only have 1 photo and she's 7 i think your absolutely fine but by all means visit the gp.

Original poster
SlightlyJaded · 07/09/2012 13:45

Quick update in case anyone ever searches the archives with a similar problem, and also for those who took the time to respond.

Took her to the opticians today and they had a really good look at her eyes, the back of her eyes etc and were very confident nothing was wrong. They told me that all of those who thought that the angle of DDs head in the photo were spot on and that this was why we only got one red eye. They did however stress that getting it looked at was the right thing to do. Just saying like...

Thanks to all who posted. And once again, 'Hail Mumnet'

OP posts:
GOLDFaverolles · 07/09/2012 13:46

Pleased everything's ok :)

TinyDancingHoofer · 08/09/2012 09:28

That's good then. Better safe than sorry Smile

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