Normal EyeThe Optic Fissure has been sketched in to show where the gap closed properly
in the normal eye. It runs from the pupil back to the optic nerve.Coloboma is a Greek word, which means mutilation. People with Coloboma are missing a portion of the structure of the eye. The human eye develops between the fourth and fifteenth week of pregnancy. As the eye starts to develop, a gap opens on the underside of each eye bud. This gap provides a way for the developing eye to be nourished. This gap, called the optic fissure, has to close before the eye is fully developed. Coloboma is the incomplete closer of the optic fissure. Gaps can occur in the eyelid, iris, ciliary body, lens, retina, macula, choroid and optic disc. It can cause from mild to sever vision loss.
Normal EyeThe Optic Fissure has been sketched in to show where the gap closed properly
in the normal eye. It runs from the pupil back to the optic nerve.
Iris ColobomaThis person has near normal vision, but is light sensitive because of the
extra light the notch in the iris lets into the back of the eye.
Iris and Retina Coloboma
With Retina Coloboma a section of the lower retina never
developed. The Sclera (white of the eye) can be seen. This is what causes �white eye� in photos. This
person has near normal vision, but is missing the upper field of vision. It�s like having a baseball cap on
all the time
Some people are missing so much Retina, because of Retina Coloboma, that they are
severely vision impaired from it..
Macula Coloboma
This person has a coloboma affecting his central vision. In this drawing all
of the macula is missing, with the white Sclera showing through. If both his eyes are this way he is Legally
Blind (about 10% of normal vision). Some people have portions of the macula left leaving them vision impaired,
but not legally blind.
Iris, Retina, Macula, Optic Nerve Coloboma
This person has Total Coloboma,
where all parts of the eye are affected.
ATTENTION! These are just simplified drawings of how colobma can affect the eye. Everyone is affected differently. The most important parts of the eye are the optic nerve and macula, damage done here, in both eyes, can lead to vision impairment and legal blindness.