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Living with Congenital cystic eye

A rare condition where a cyst grows in place of an eye because the eye did not develop properly during pregnancy.

Understanding Congenital cystic eye

Congenital cystic eye is a rare eye condition in which a cyst grows in the place where the eye should be.

It happens when the eye's early structure (the optic vesicle) does not develop properly in pregnancy. Sometimes the eye partly develops. The cyst is made of tissue lined with supportive nerve cell material. Usually only one eye is affected, and it may occur alone or with other eye problems.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary describes:

  • Cyst in place of the eye
  • Usually one eye affected
  • Other eye differences in some

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 eye disease specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

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

Care & treatment

Care team
Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists)
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
Are other eye or body differences present?
What are the options for cosmetic or prosthetic care?
Which specialists should be on our care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy

The eye (the optic vesicle) does not develop properly during pregnancy. GARD doesn't describe a specific gene.

Also known as: congenital anophthalmos with cyst; congenital cystic eyeball

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Congenital cystic eyeGARD ID 10617 · 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 Congenital cystic eye.

Explore the Congenital cystic eye blog

Explore research for Congenital cystic eye

Explore actively recruiting Congenital cystic eye studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Congenital cystic eye with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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