Red Eye: A word to the wise

[LeeR]

Anyone who has used a flash with their camera has experienced the effects of red eye; a condition that happens when the light is coming from an angle too close to the angle of the lens. This being the case, what would happen if you took a picture of a child and only one eye turned red? Would you know what that means?
There is a serious condition called retinoblastoma, a cancerous tumor sometimes found in children that deforms the back of the eye and prevents the red eye effect. More than one photographer has spotted this and alerted their clients that a closer look by a doctor is warranted. Check out the details here.
While no one wants to get a diagnosis like this, retinoblastoma is completely treatable if caught early enough. You may literally save a life with your observation.

[Jim Poor]

Wow. Great information that I hope never comes in handy.

[castman]

Thanks for the info!

[CheaperKings]

Wow! I just had a picture brought to me by my mother-in-law that one of the people in the image had this effect. I was just asked to edit it out so it looked normal. Probably should re-visit that image and look more closely and, prossibly, inform the party involved...

[NicoleScraps]

Never heard of this before. TFS!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by LeeR

There is a serious condition called retinoblastoma,

Or the child had their head turned slightly. You know, that or Cancer.

[tasmo2]

I had heard this before and forgotten about it, thanks for the reminder. Im sure he is saying that if you have several photos of a child with only one eye red it would be cause for concern... not just one random shot at an angle.. LOL

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by tasmo2

Im sure he is saying that if you have several photos of a child with only one eye red it would be cause for concern... not just one random shot at an angle.. LOL

I work in photofinishing and take tons of photos myself, as well as help family and friends with their equipment: I've often seen things where only one eye had red eye on the same person for an entire weekend or something similar. That doesnt mean they have cancer and, frankly, it's not even a cause for concern.

This is like the news going on about "WILL YOUR SALAD KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHILE YOU SLEEP!? Film at 11". Its like Dr Oz.

No offence to LeeR or anything, but it's fearmongering at it's best.

[LeeR]

I really would encourage everyone to visit the website I posted on this subject. There is a wealth of information to be found there, including details on the situation Os describes and how to set your camera up to get an accurate representation. I don't believe that having clear, accurate and actionable information falls into the class of "fear mongering" especially if we have to opportunity to offer a service that extends beyond taking pictures. I appreciate Os raising his concerns, but we have a thousands of people on this site who take millions of baby pictures so this information may one day prove beneficial.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I work in photofinishing and take tons of photos myself, as well as help family and friends with their equipment: I've often seen things where only one eye had red eye on the same person for an entire weekend or something similar. That doesnt mean they have cancer and, frankly, it's not even a cause for concern.

This is like the news going on about "WILL YOUR SALAD KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHILE YOU SLEEP!? Film at 11". Its like Dr Oz.

No offence to LeeR or anything, but it's fearmongering at it's best.

Although, actually reading the information, we see that it's not the lack of red eye that is the indicator but the presence of freaky, exorcist white eye.

The most easily recognised sign of retinoblastoma is an abnormal appearance of the pupil, which reflects light as a white reflex, like a cat's eye at night.

http://www.eyecancermd.org/retinobla...diagnosis.html