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Living with Colobomatous microphthalmia - obesity - hypogenitalism - intellectual disability syndrome

A rare genetic condition with small eyes, weight gain around the torso, learning differences and underdeveloped genitals.

Understanding Colobomatous microphthalmia - obesity - hypogenitalism - intellectual disability syndrome

This syndrome is a rare genetic condition that combines small eyes, obesity, intellectual disability and underdeveloped genitals.

Both eyes are small (microphthalmia), usually unevenly, and often one eye has a coloboma, a gap in its tissue. People have weight gain around the torso and borderline to mild intellectual disability. Some also have shaky eye movements, cataracts or developmental delay. Symptoms are seen in newborns and infants.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Small eyeballs (microphthalmia)
  • Gap at the back of the eye (retinal coloboma)
  • Cataract (clouding of the eye lens)
  • Involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
  • Obesity
  • Intellectual disability and developmental delay

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, eye disease specialists, genetic specialists and hormone specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Is genetic testing available for our family?
Which eye specialists should we see for vision care?
How can we support healthy weight and development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant

GARD says changes in genes cause this condition. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.

GeneticNeurologicalEndocrine

Also known as: colobomatous microphthalmia-obesity-hypogenitalism-intellectual disability syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Colobomatous microphthalmia - obesity - hypogenitalism - intellectual disability syndromeGARD ID 17575 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Colobomatous microphthalmia - obesity - hypogenitalism - intellectual disability syndrome.

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