Cryptophthalmus

CRYPTOPHTHALMUS (from Greek kryptos- hidden and ophthalmos- eye), a congenital developmental defect consisting in the eyeball being covered by skin, continuously stretched over it from the cheek to the forehead. Sometimes in place of the palpebral fissure there is a rudimentary opening, while at other times the palpebral fissure is indicated only by a depression and a thin white line. Eyelashes are usually absent; eyebrows are also poorly developed. The eyeball can usually be palpated under the skin; movements of it can be felt and therefore the presence of muscles can be determined. The conjunctival sac as a rule is absent; in isolated cases traces of it have been found. Sometimes there is light perception in the eye. In most cases, cryptophthalmus is accompanied by other developmental defects on the body. Cases of familial cryptophthalmus have been described. Anatomically: the tissues of the eyelid are weakly expressed, Meibomian glands and the tarsus itself are often absent, the orbicularis muscle and the muscle that elevates the eyelid are preserved. The lacrimal apparatus is mostly absent and only in a single case by Goldzieher did they function. The conjunctiva is rudimentarily expressed. The cornea is fused with the tissue covering it; the epithelium is absent; the proper tissue of the cornea is fibrosally degenerated, penetrated by vessels. Descemet's membrane is weakly expressed. Elements of the iris tissue are fused with the cornea, and the iris as such is absent; the ciliary body is poorly developed; the uvea¹ and retina may be pathologically (as if inflammatory) changed, but they may also be normal. The lens may be preserved, but sometimes only rudiments of it are present. In addition to the inflammatory theory of the origin of cryptophthalmus, there is also the theory that cryptophthalmus represents a pure developmental defect due to obstacles to the development of the eyelids from the amnion, where it is not a question of the eyelids fusing with the eye, but of their insufficient development. Surgical treatment of cryptophthalmus remains ineffective.