Table of contents:
- What causes changes in the whites of blue eyes?
- 1. Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- 2. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI
Having blue eyes like white people might be the dream of most people. Not infrequently there are people who beautify their eyes by wearing colored contact lenses. However, if the white of the eye (sclera) turns bluish, this is a sign that you must be vigilant. Changing the whites of the eyes to blue often indicates abnormalities in various organs of the body. What causes the whites of the eyes to turn blue?
What causes changes in the whites of blue eyes?
The white part of the eye that turns blue is caused by the thinning of the sclera layer so that the choroid blood vessels (the layer of the eye under the sclera) are visible from the outside. This depletion can occur because collagen (a protein that makes up body tissue), which is the main component of the sclera, is not produced in sufficient quantities.
What are the causes?
1. Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a congenital disorder that attacks the formation process and structure of collagen. Data shows that this disease affects 1 in every 20,000 births. This disease can affect both women and men.
One of the most common signs of OI is the whites of blue eyes. Other symptoms of OI that also affect the eyes are:
- Megalocornea, which is the size of the cornea that is larger than normal so that the dark circles of the eyes appear larger.
- Corneal arch, which forms a white circle around the outer edge of the black part of the eye.
OI also causes other problems that you will generally be aware of in advance, namely fractures with only minimal impact. These fractures must be handled appropriately and quickly so as not to cause permanent disability. We have also found a drug called zoledronate to help strengthen bones and can be used in patients with OI.
2. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI
Not much different from OI, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is also a congenital disorder. This disorder attacks the collagen formation process, causing symptoms, such as:
- The skin is thin and very elastic.
- Bruising easily, but heals for a long time.
- Joints are more flexible, so it is easy to shift joints (dislocations).
- Heart and blood vessel disorders.
Of the 13 types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, only type VI and sometimes type IV cause eye problems. Apart from making the whites of the eyes blue, Ehlers-Danlos can also cause other symptoms, namely:
- The sclera is fragile, light impact to the eye area can cause leakage from the eyeball.
- Microcornea: smaller size of the cornea, as opposed to OI.
- Keratoconus, the cornea of the eye that is more convex than it should be.
- Minus eye and retinal detachment.
If your baby experiences the signs as mentioned above, immediately consult your baby's condition with the nearest pediatrician in order to get the best treatment.
