A study published in the journal Ophthalmology found previously unreported eye problems in Brazilian babies with microcephaly may be linked to the Zika virus.
Darius Moshfeghi, MD, senior study author and professor of ophthalmology at Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine, and colleagues examined three infant boys' eyes
born in late 2015 with microcephaly. All had mothers with suspected Zika virus infections during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Here are five points:
1. The researchers observed retinal lesions, hemorrhaging and abnormal blood vessel development in the three infants.
2. All three babies showed signs of pigmentary maculopathy, lesions that appear as speckles of pigment on the macula.
3. Four eyes had symptoms of chorioretinal atrophy marked by a darkly pigmented ring.
4. The authors noted it remains unclear whether the viral infection itself causes eye abnormalities or if they are a consequence of Zika-induced microcephaly.
5. Dr. Moshfeghi said the next step is to differentiate what findings are related to the Zika virus itself versus microcephaly caused by the virus. Through this differentiation, researchers hope to better understand which infants need screening.
