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Retinoblastoma: a white pupil in a photo, the other signs in a young child, the tests, and the treatment
For parents who saw a pupil that looks white in a flash photo or another sign in their child’s eye, for parents just told it is retinoblastoma, and for families where someone had it. It passes on, by name, what the National Eye Institute (NEI, part of the NIH) says about this rare eye cancer: the signs; the gene and families; the dilated eye exam and the tests; and the treatments. It builds what to say and ask, and prints a card. Nothing is saved.
Right now
- A pupil that looks white in a photo or in bright light, an eye that drifts, or a red, swollen or watery eye? NEI says to call your child’s doctor right away. Ours: call today, say what you saw and in which eye, and keep the photo.
- An emergency (trouble breathing, a seizure, a child you cannot wake)? Call 911 (ours: the NEI pages do not name 911).
- It is all too much, or you have thoughts of suicide? Call or text 988, any hour, free (ours).
More help
- On this site: When the doctor says cancer · Lazy eye · Low vision · Eyes and sight: find the right page.
- Also: Caring for someone · Help at school · Glasses and eye exams you can afford · Low-cost health care.
- For you: Get ready for your appointment. In an emergency: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
Your eyes or your sight, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for a hurt or pink eye, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes and the eyes, macular degeneration, a detached retina, dry eye, fading sight and eye care you can afford, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 23, 2026 on the National Eye Institute’s (NIH) pages Retinoblastoma (last updated December 4, 2024), Tests for Retinoblastoma and Treatment for Retinoblastoma (last updated December 6, 2024). Ours: calling today and keeping the photo; that a white glow can have other causes but only an exam can tell; the 911 and 988 lines; asking the care team which signs mean “call now” and the number for nights and weekends; asking about a genetic counselor and eye exams for brothers and sisters; a social worker; telling the school; the questions; the card; the links to our other pages; and the order of the steps. What we left out: the research section (NEI points to the National Cancer Institute) and the research news. This page gives no numbers about how often it happens or how often treatment works, and names no drug or hospital: ask your child’s doctors. Nothing you tick or type here is saved or sent.