The story of missing Madeleine McCann has captured the attention of people around the world for the past 17 years.
Many have noticed a distinct black smudge in her eye, known as coloboma, as her face has been plastered across television screens and posters. Coloboma is a rare condition that people can be born with, occurring when part of the eye tissue is missing.
It can affect one or both eyes, but does not mean there is a hole in the eye, just that it did not fully form during pregnancy.
The most common form of coloboma affects the iris, manifesting as a pupil shaped like a keyhole. Children with this form of the condition tend to have fairly good vision, although they may dislike bright lights.
Coloboma is extremely rare, occurring in only one in 10,000 births, and Madeleine’s mark could affect as few as seven out of one million people.
The condition can affect many parts of the eye, such as the iris, uvea, lens, retina, macula, or optic nerve, and can lead to vision loss or blindness, low vision, and sensitivity to light. There is no cure for coloboma, but it is monitored through regular eye checks, and some individuals may need corrective lenses or surgery to help with vision and appearance.
While much about the cause of coloboma remains unknown, it is thought that a baby’s eye or eyes do not develop properly during pregnancy, and it may sometimes be inherited.
There may be a link between drinking alcohol during pregnancy and an increased risk of coloboma in a baby.
If a child has coloboma, it is advisable for the parents to get their eyes tested to check for any undiagnosed problems. As of now, coloboma cannot be cured, but can be managed with proper care and treatment.
Madeleine McCann’s disappearance from a holiday apartment in Portugal has remained unsolved for nearly two decades, and her parents were once named as suspects before being cleared the following summer.
This mysterious case has continued to be a topic of public interest, and the investigation continues to seek answers in the search for Madeleine.
