Texas Children's Hospital
 
   

    Care Centers

    Overview
    Directory
    Cancer Center
    Fetal Center
    Heart Center
    Maternity Care
    Neurology
    Newborn Center

Bookmark and Share

 
 

Ophthalmology Clinic
Retinoblastoma

 

Retinoblastoma, though extremely rare, is the most common pediatric cancer of the eye, usually affecting children under 3. When a child with retinoblastoma comes to Texas Children's, ophthalmologists work closely with genetic researchers, oncologists, radiologists and others in the Texas Children's Cancer Center to choose the course of treatment most likely to retain that child's vision.

Traditionally, treatment of retinoblastoma required surgical removal of the eye. Today, when retinoblastoma is contained, alternative treatments such as radiation and/or chemotherapy are sometimes used in an attempt to save the affected eye. 

Research is underway at Texas Children's to develop a new gene therapy to treat retinoblastoma in children. This innovative technique holds promise for saving children’s eyes, and perhaps vision, and may avoid the toxicities associated with conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.

Read more about retinoblastoma (PDF file).