Definition:

Ocular coloboma is a congenital and common malformation which includes a deficiency of the structures of the eye, such as the iris, retina, choroid, or optic disc. It is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder, although autosomal recessive inheritance also occurs. Paired box gene 6 (PAX6), a member of the paired box family of transcription factors, has been identified as a key regulator of eye development. Currently around 500 mutations of PAX6 have been reported. And most PAX6 nonsense mutations lead to aniridia, while missense mutations are related to foveal hypoplasia, congenital cataracts, or anterior segment anomalies. Recently, it has been reported that mutation of SALL2 causes recessive ocular coloboma.