Why can a toxoplasmosis infection during pregnancy affect an unborn child’s eyes?

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eye disease An ophthalmologist performing LASIK eye surgery.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. When a woman acquires the infection during pregnancy, the parasite can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta.1

This congenital transmission allows the parasite to spread to various organs of the developing child, including the eyes. Consequently, infants born with congenital toxoplasmosis may suffer from eye disease, alongside other potential complications such as encephalitis, jaundice, and mental defects.1