Development of the Eye
Cyclopia

“Holoprosencephaly” is an anomaly resulting from disturbances of early forebrain development. Because of the influence of the brain on surrounding structures facial defects are common. Fully developed cases frequently include facial defects, microcephaly, and closely set eyes.

Cyclopia: During early normal development the eye fields form on either side of the diencephalon. Failure of development of the ventral midline portion of the prosencephalon allows the eye fields to form in close proximity to one another resulting in cyclopia. In the example shown, the near absence of upper and mid-facial tissue allowed the fusion of the optic primordia below a tubular proboscis (nose).

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