Yes, it is possible to be born with one eye, although it is an extremely rare and severe congenital condition.
Cyclopia: A Rare Birth Defect
The condition where a baby is born with a single eye is called Cyclopia. This is a very rare form of holoprosencephaly, a cephalic disorder characterized by the failure of the prosencephalon (the forebrain of the embryo) to properly divide the orbits of the eyes into two cavities. This results in the formation of a single, centrally located eye.
- Characteristics: Besides having one eye, cyclopia is often accompanied by other severe facial malformations. The most common is the absence of a nose. Instead, a proboscis (a nose-like tubular appendage) may be present above the eye.
- Cause: Cyclopia is caused by significant malformations of the brain during early pregnancy. It can be caused by genetic mutations or exposure to certain toxins during gestation.
- Prognosis: Unfortunately, cyclopia is a very serious condition with a poor prognosis. In most cases, babies with cyclopia are either miscarried, stillborn, or only survive for a few hours or days after birth due to the severity of the brain malformations and other associated health problems.
While the existence of cyclopia confirms that it's possible to be born with one eye, it is crucial to understand that it's part of a complex and often fatal syndrome and not simply a case of missing an eye.
