Retinoblastoma and Other Malignant Intraocular Tumors

Much of the vision loss that we as pediatric ophthalmologists accept as normal with retinoblastoma can be prevented or reversed with aggressive screening, early diagnosis, and treat- ment. In fact, we are convinced that in the coming decades detecting early disease by lowering the average age at initial diagnosis will prove to be a much more efficient and cost- effective way to manage retinoblastoma than developing exotic new drugs or gene therapy for advanced disease. For retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), we readily accept that early detection and treatment can prevent vision loss. The problem there, however, seems a bit more manageable; the children at risk for ROP all belong to a small and easily identifiable group based on low birth weight.