Joanne R. Pompano
The condition termed anophthalmia refers to children who are born without eyes. In this condition one or both eyes didn’t form during the early stages of pregnancy. (52)
There are three classifications for this condition.
l. Primary anophthalmia--the complete absence of eye tissue 2. In secondary anophthalmia --the eye begins to develop but stops. The result is that the infant has only residual eye tissue or extremely tiny eyes.
3. In degenerative anophthalmia --the eye begins to form and but degenerates. One reason for this may be a lack of blood supply to the eye.
(53)
Anophthalmia may affect one eye (monocular) or affect both eyes (bilateral). Anophthalmia indicates that there may be some outside interruption during fatal development that occurred very early after conception. (54)
Prosthetic eyes can be fitted to the empty eye sockets for cosmetic purposes. In some cases, conformers -balloon-like devices can be expanded inside the socket, are also help to promote the growth of the eye socket.
(55)
