Is Stargardt disease curable?

Is Stargardt disease curable?

Stargardt disease, like other forms of macular degeneration, does not have a cure yet. It is sometimes treated with intraocular injections of anti-VEGF drugs, similar to “wet” Age-related Macular Degeneration treatments, if there is the proliferation or leakage of blood vessels.

Who gets Stargardt disease?

Stargardt macular degeneration is the most common form of juvenile macular degeneration, the signs and symptoms of which begin in childhood. The estimated prevalence of Stargardt macular degeneration is 1 in 8,000 to 10,000 individuals.

What age does Stargardt disease start?

Stargardt disease is usually diagnosed in people under the age of 20. There is a late onset form of the disease which can begin in people over the age of 50.

How bad is Stargardt disease?

Stargardt disease can cause severe problems with your central vision. However, most people with the condition retain their peripheral vision, so won’t lose their sight completely. There are lots of things that you can do to make the most of the vision you have.

Do people with Stargardt go blind?

The condition can be slowly degenerative and progressive, but it is very uncommon for someone with Stargardt Disease to become completely blind. The rate of progression and degree of visual loss can vary from person to person and even among affected members of the same family.

Can you drive with Stargardt disease?

These low vision optics enable you to read signs and see traffic lights in the distance. So getting a driver’s license and driving safely with Stargardt disease – even if you are legally blind – can be an option!

What does someone with Stargardt disease see?

The most common symptom of Stargardt disease is a slow loss of central vision in both eyes. Some people lose their central vision more quickly than others. Other symptoms may include: Gray, black, or hazy spots in the center of your vision.

Do you go blind with Stargardt disease?

It is rare for people with the disease to become completely blind. For most people, vision loss progresses slowly over time to 20/200 or worse. (Normal vision is 20/20). Stargardt disease is also called Stargardt macular dystrophy, juvenile macular degeneration, or fundus flavimaculatus.

What is the treatment of Stargardt disease?

While there is no known treatment for Stargardt’s disease at this time, people with the condition often are advised to wear eyeglasses or sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV light to reduce the possibility of additional eye damage caused by the sun.

Can you go blind from Stargardt disease?

Stargardt’s disease is diagnosed by the presence of small, yellowish spots of deteriorating tissue (drusen) sloughed off from the colored or outer covering of the retina (retinal pigment epithelium). Progressive vision loss eventually leads to blindness in most cases.

Does Stargardt disease lead to blindness?

Stargardt disease can cause color blindness, so your eye doctor may also test your color vision. Fundus photography. Your eye doctor may take a photo of your retina to check for yellowish flecks on your macula.

How is Stargardt disease treated?

At this time there is no treatment available for Stargardt disease. However, researchers are studying gene and drug therapies. One promising study involves delivering a healthy version of the gene that causes Stargardt disease, ABCA4, into retinal cells to restore production of the normal protein.

How is Stargardt’s disease passed on to children?

Stargardt’s is an inherited disease passed along to children when both parents carry mutations of a gene associated with vitamin A processing in the eye.

Where is Stargardt disease located on the chromosome?

Stargardt Disease (STGD) is most commonly caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene located on chromosome 1 (OMIM 601691) and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Is there a cure for the Stargardt disease?

Unfortunately, there is no available treatment for Stargardt disease. But there are several gene therapy and drug therapy trials going on. With genetic testing, you will know your faulty gene, and can look for and decide to take part in a current trial. Wearing sunglasses may help with the bright light sensitivity of Stargardt disease.

How can you tell if you have Stargardt disease?

Other forms of Stargardt disease need a gene from only one parent to cause symptoms, but those are very rare. Your ophthalmologist will dilate (widen) your eye’s pupils to look at your retina. People with Stargardt disease have yellowish flecks called lipofuscin in and under the macula. Sometimes these flecks extend outward in a ring.