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What Causes Astigmatism And Color Blindness In Children?

Posted on Sat, 24 Jan 2015

Question: My 7 year old son was referred to any eye doctor after by the school after failing an in school eye exam. The doctor found he had a -3.25 astigmatism in both eyes and is near sighted. The corrective lenses are unable to fix his vision at this time and he suggested giving it 6 weeks. Also, he was tested for color blindness and was diagnosed with that. Both the astigmatism and the color blindness seem to be sudden because he tested fine at age 5. Are there any diseases he should be checked for?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
suggestions on color blindness

Detailed Answer:
Hi....I suggest we need to consider the old testing first as that age kids (4years 1 year back) may not respond very well for examination.

My suggestions -

1. Retinitis pigmentosa.
2. Vitamin A deficiency
3. Syndromes that are associated with color blindness need be considered.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

What are some of the syndromes associated with color blindness?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Genetics of color blindness

Detailed Answer:
Hi....Some of the syndromes are -
cone dystrophy
cone-rod dystrophy
achromatopsia (aka rod monochromatism, aka stationary cone dystrophy, aka cone dysfunction syndrome)
blue cone monochromatism (aka blue cone monochromacy, aka X-linked Achromatopsia)
Leber's congenital amaurosis
retinitis pigmentosa (initially affects rods but can later progress to cones and therefore color blindness).

Mutations in the CNGA3, CNGB3, GNAT2, OPN1LW, OPN1MW, and OPN1SW genes cause color vision deficiency.

All this requires detailed genetic analysis and workup by expert opthalmologist.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D