Researchers have developed a smartphone app to help parents detect early signs of various eye diseases in their children such as retinoblastoma, an aggressive pediatric eye cancer. The CRADLE app (Computer-assisted detector leukocoria) searches for traces of abnormal reflections from the retina called leukocoria or "white eye", a primary symptom of retinoblastoma, as well as other common eye disorders. The app can be downloaded for free and can be found under the name "White Eye Detector." The study, published in the journal Science Advances, found that the app is an effective tool to augment clinical leukocoria screenings, allowing parents to efficiently and effectively screen their children more often throughout their development. "We suspected that the app would detect leukocoria associated with other more common disorders and some rare ones," said study researcher Bryan F. Shaw from Baylor University in the US.

An app uses a smart phone camera to detect leukocoria, a pale reflection from the back of the eye. It can be an early sign of disease. Here it appears light brown compared the healthy eye. An app uses a smart phone camera to detect leukocoria, a pale reflection from the back of the eye. It can be an early sign of disease.