Flash photos typically produce a red reflection in people’s eyes, but sometimes that reflection can appear white or gray, which is known as leukocoria.
When leukocoria is seen in photos, ophthalmologists refer to it as “photoleukocoria.” It can be indicative of retinoblastoma or cataracts, or be purely physiologic and not associated with ocular disease.
Evan Silverstein, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and colleagues published a report in Pediatrics about two children who were