What is the name of the medical condition in humans in which the pupil of the eye is shaped like that of a cat or reptile, and how prevalent is it?

lones78

The condition is called 'Coloboma' and "the incidence of coloboma is estimated at around 0.5 to 0.7 per 10,000 births, making it a relatively rare condition". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloboma Mar 22 10, 3:50 AM

navonil1

Some more facts about Coloboma: Coloboma of the iris may look like a black, round hole located in or next to the colored part of the eye (iris). It can look like a black notch of different depths at the edge of the pupil. This gives the pupil an irregular shape. It can also appear as a split in the iris from the pupil to the edge of the iris. A small coloboma (specially if it is not attached to the pupil), may allow a second image to focus on the back of the eye, causing: * Blurred vision * Decreased visual acuity * Ghost image The defect may include the retina, choroid, or optic nerve. Colobomas are generally diagnosed at, or shortly after birth. Causes Coloboma can occur due to: * Eye surgery * Inherited conditions * Trauma to the eye Most cases of coloboma have no known cause and are not related to other abnormalities. A small percentage of people with coloboma have other inherited developmental problems. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003318.htm Mar 26 10, 5:54 AM