Leukocoria is when your eye’s pupil reflects white, silvery, gray or yellowish instead of red. The color difference is because light is reflecting off something other than the red-reflecting retinal tissue at the back of your eye. It can be a sign of serious or dangerous eye conditions. In children, 1 in 5 instances of leukocoria are due to cancer.
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Leukocoria is when the reflected light in the pupil of your eye appears white, gray, silvery or yellow instead of red. The name of this symptom comes from Greek and means “white pupil.” It’s also sometimes called “cat’s eye pupil.” Leukocoria may signal a serious problem within your eye.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
When someone shines a light at your eyes, it should cause a faint red reflection in your pupil. That’s called the “red reflex,” and it happens because of light bouncing off the retina at the back of your eye. A common way to see this is by taking a flash-illuminated picture of someone looking directly at you.
If something else is in the way and reflects the light instead of the retina, that can cause leukocoria. This symptom mainly affects children, but it can also happen in adults. But the conditions that usually cause it in adults aren’t as likely to be dangerous.
Noticing a white pupil in a photo of your child might seem concerning based on the above description. But it’s important to remember that a single photo with a white reflection in the pupil isn’t a cause for fear or panic.
The surface of your eye can also reflect light, and sometimes that can cause an effect that resembles leukocoria but isn’t the same. Leukocoria fills most or all of the pupil. A surface reflection is usually smaller and won’t appear in the same location in different photographs.
If you’re concerned about possibly seeing leukocoria in a photo, try taking additional pictures. You should take pictures from different angles (above, below, left, right). If a leukocoria-like reflection appears in multiple photos and the color difference fills the entire pupil, you should ask your child’s pediatrician or other provider for an appointment as soon as possible.
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In children, the two most common causes of leukocoria are:
The following conditions each account for about 1% of childhood leukocoria cases:
Other causes (which are even rarer) include:
The treatment for leukocoria depends greatly on what the cause is. Most causes are treatable, but some are serious enough that they usually involve removal of part or all of the affected eye.
The treatments vary widely for rarer conditions that can cause leukocoria in children. Your provider (or your child’s provider) can tell you more about the specific treatment(s) that may help and which they recommend.
Leukocoria always needs to be evaluated by an eye specialist because of the risk of it being a symptom of retinoblastoma. Often a healthcare provider like your child’s pediatrician will be the first to notice it.
But loved ones might also see it when taking pictures of children. If you think you see leukocoria in a picture, try taking more.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
You might not think about the color of reflected light in your or your child’s eyes in a photo. But if you do, you may want to pay attention. A single photo with an eye that reflects gray, white, silver or yellow light isn’t cause for alarm. But if you notice it happening in multiple photos, talk to your provider (or your child’s provider).
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Most cases of leukocoria happen because of conditions that affect vision but aren’t dangerous. But about 1 out of 5 childhood cases involve a cancer called retinoblastoma. In those cases, early diagnosis and treatment can make a difference in the survival and use of the affected eye.
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Last reviewed on 11/21/2023.
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