Baby Born with One Eye in Rare ‘Cyclops’ Condition Died Just Hours After Birth

One-eyed baby dies seven hours after its birth.Photo byGulf News.

In a heartbreaking 2018 incident, a baby born with only one eye at the center of her forehead survived for just seven hours after her birth in Indonesia. The rare deformity has raised concerns about environmental factors, particularly mercury exposure, as a potential cause, in certain low-to-middle income countries.

And this is not an isolated case. Similar cases of babies born with cyclopia have occurred in India in 2017, Egypt in 2020, and Yemen in 2022.

A Heartbreaking Birth

Atana Ariyanto and his wife, Suriyanti, residents of Java Island, welcomed their fifth child in North Sumatra's Mandailing Natal district. The baby girl, weighing 5 pounds, was delivered naturally.

But to the horror of her parents and the medical staff, she was born with one eye in the middle of her forehead and lacked a nose. Despite these significant facial abnormalities, the rest of her body and organs were reportedly intact.

This shocking discovery came as a surprise to the parents, as Suriyanti had not undergone an ultrasound during her pregnancy. Overwhelmed with grief and shock, the couple isolated themselves in their room after seeing their newborn for the first time.

Medical Staff's Efforts to Save the Baby

Immediately after birth, the baby was placed under intensive care. Doctors were forced to use an oxygen tube through her mouth due to the absence of a nose, but the baby's condition was critical.

Dr. Syarifuddin Nasution, head of the Mandailing Natal District Health Office, explained that the baby's heart rate was below 100 beats per minute, indicating severe health issues. Despite being monitored every 15 minutes by a team of medical professionals, the baby passed away later that evening at 10:44 PM.

According to Dr. Nasution, babies born with such rare deformities are usually delivered via cesarean section due to the complexity of their medical needs. He further explained that babies with similar conditions often face breathing difficulties and heart problems, drastically lowering their life expectancy.

Suspected Mercury Exposure and Rubella Virus

Dr. Syarifuddin Nasution has pointed to environmental factors as potential causes of the baby's condition, specifically mercury exposure and the Rubella virus.

The parents live in Kayu Jati village in Panyabungan City District, where they work in a local mine. This raises concerns, as mining activities in the area may have exposed Suriyanti to harmful mercury levels during pregnancy.

Mercury is a well-known neurotoxin that can interfere with the development of a fetus, leading to a range of birth defects, including severe physical deformities like those seen in this case.

Understanding Cyclopia: A Rare Congenital Condition

Cyclopia is an extremely rare and severe congenital disorder, part of a group of conditions known as holoprosencephaly. This occurs when the developing embryo's brain fails to divide into two distinct hemispheres during early pregnancy.

As a result, the baby is born with one eye, or a partially fused eye, in the middle of the forehead. The condition is often accompanied by other facial abnormalities, such as the absence of a nose or malformed structures of the head.

Cyclopia is almost always fatal, with most affected fetuses either being stillborn or dying shortly after birth. This is because the condition affects not only the physical appearance of the baby but also vital organs, especially the brain and respiratory system.

The causes of cyclopia can vary, but it is often linked to genetic mutations or environmental factors, such as exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy. Other factors may include viral infections, such as Rubella, or the use of certain medications during pregnancy. Despite ongoing research, cyclopia remains a poorly understood condition due to its extreme rarity and the complexity of its development.

Rare But Significant Case

This tragic event underscores the importance of prenatal care and the dangers that environmental toxins like mercury can pose to expectant mothers. While this case is rare, it highlights the need for increased awareness and safety measures in areas where pregnant women might be exposed to harmful substances.

Families working in industries like mining, where toxic exposure is a significant risk, face heightened dangers. This case also calls for better access to prenatal care, particularly in rural and industrial areas, to identify and manage potential risks to both mother and baby early in pregnancy.

While nothing can ease the grief of the parents, this tragedy may serve as a wake-up call for increased research and stricter regulation of environmental toxins, particularly in vulnerable communities.