---
title: "Leukocoria (white pupil reflex in a child)"
description: "Why a white pupil reflex in a child is an emergency, conditions that can cause it including retinoblastoma, and what to do immediately."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/symptoms/leukocoria/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Symptom

# Leukocoria (white pupil reflex in a child)

Medical emergency in children: seek care today

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Leukocoria means the pupil looks white or pale instead of dark, often noticed in flash photos of a young child. It can be a sign of retinoblastoma, a serious childhood eye cancer, or other urgent eye problems. Do not wait: seek same-day assessment by a paediatric or eye specialist.

## Seek emergency assessment today if

- A child has a white, pale or abnormal pupil reflex in one or both eyes
- Flash photos show one red eye and one white or silvery eye
- The white reflex is new, persistent or getting worse
- It appears with a squint, red painful eye or change in vision

### On this page ⌄

1. Seek emergency assessment today if
2. Possible causes
3. Related symptoms
4. What to do now
5. Frequently asked questions

## Possible causes

Several conditions can cause leukocoria. All need prompt specialist assessment in a child — do not assume it is harmless.

## Related symptoms

## What to do now

- Contact a paediatrician or eye specialist the same day — do not wait for a routine appointment
- Bring photos that show the white reflex if you have them
- Do not delay because the child seems well otherwise

## Frequently asked questions

### Is leukocoria always retinoblastoma?

No, but retinoblastoma is the most serious cause and must be ruled out quickly. Other conditions such as childhood cataract also need urgent specialist care.

### Can camera flash cause a white pupil?

Flash usually causes red-eye in both eyes. One white or silvery pupil while the other looks red, especially if repeated in several photos, is not normal and needs assessment.

### What if the white reflex comes and goes?

An intermittent white reflex still needs same-day assessment. Do not wait to see if it disappears permanently.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Trusted sources

For general background, these organisations provide eye-health information. This list is further reading, not a record that they reviewed this article.

- [NHS — Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/)
- [Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust](https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/)
- [American Academy of Ophthalmology — EyeHealth](https://www.aao.org/eye-health)
- [National Eye Institute (NIH)](https://www.nei.nih.gov/)
- [College of Optometrists — Look After Your Eyes](https://lookafteryoureyes.org/)
- [World Health Organization — Eye care, vision impairment and blindness](https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss)