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Living with Microphthalmia, isolated, with coloboma

A rare eye condition with small eyes in one or both eyes and gaps in the eye tissue called coloboma.

Understanding Microphthalmia, isolated, with coloboma

Microphthalmia, isolated, with coloboma is a rare eye condition in which one or both eyes are small and have gaps in the eye tissue.

GARD describes colobomatous microphthalmia as a developmental condition of the eye. It involves smaller-than-usual eyes (microphthalmia) in one or both eyes along with coloboma. Signs are seen during pregnancy or in the newborn period. It can be passed down in more than one way.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet.

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 and genetic 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); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
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
How much vision is expected to be affected, and how can it be supported?
Can genetic testing find the cause in my family?
Which eye specialists should follow my child's care?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive

Changes in genes (also called variants) cause this condition. It can be autosomal dominant (a changed copy from one parent is enough) or autosomal recessive (a changed copy from each parent).

Genetic

Also known as: colobomatous microphthalmia; mac; microphthalmia with colobomatous cyst; microphthalmia-anophthalmia-coloboma syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Microphthalmia, isolated, with colobomaGARD ID 3644 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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