Symptom Treatments For Cat Eye Syndrome
Cat eye syndrome is a very rare genetic medical condition caused by the presence of an extra fragment on chromosome 22. Also referred to as Schmid-Fraccaro syndrome, this condition can cause problems with the heart, eyes, ears, and kidneys. One of the most common symptoms of cat eye syndrome is having a hole in the iris (the colored part of the eye), leading to what some individuals call a cat's eye. Patients with the syndrome also experience a cleft lip or cleft palate, crossed eyes, widely spaced or downward-slanting eyes, and small holes in the ears. Other symptoms include congenital heart defects, scoliosis, jaundice, liver issues, and urinary tract infections. Some patients may have developmental delays or mild learning difficulties. Cat eye syndrome can be diagnosed with blood and bone marrow testing, and doctors also do a clinical examination, which includes vision and hearing tests as well as cardiac screenings such as an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. Children may need additional testing with eye and ear specialists. Some of the symptoms of the condition may be visible on an ultrasound taken while the child is in the womb. While there is no cure for cat eye syndrome, patients can manage their condition with the methods described below.