Are there any cures or treatments for Stargardt disease?
There are no proven treatments for Stargardt disease. Theories are being tested, and doctors tell people to wear sunglasses, but as of now, this is all that can be done. This is a genetic condition that is a form of macular degeneration.
What kind of vision loss does Stargardt disease cause?
Stargardt disease, sometimes referred to as Stargardt’s disease, is an inherited eye disease that affects tens of thousands of people in North America. Stargardt disease can cause substantial vision loss; many people with the condition are legally blind. It is a progressive condition, which means the vision loss worsens over time.
What happens to the cones and rods in Stargardt disease?
Both cones and rods die away in Stargardt disease, but for unclear reasons, cones are more strongly affected in most cases. You may have heard about the importance of vitamin A-rich foods in maintaining healthy vision.
What kind of tests are done for Stargardt disease?
Amsler grid testing to determine central vision abilities. Optical coherence tomography to get a better look at the retina. Once the doctor suspects Stargardt disease, they will dilate the eyes and perform an examination. They are looking at the retina to see if there are elongated white, branching flecks present.
What kind of eye disease is Stargardt disease?
¿Qué es la enfermedad de Stargardt? Stargardt disease is an eye disease that causes vision loss in children and young adults. It is an inherited disease, meaning it is passed on to children from their parents. Stargardt disease is often called juvenile macular dystrophy.
How does optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) work for Stargardt disease?
Abnormal patterns of light response suggest the presence of Stargardt disease or other diseases that involve retinal degeneration. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a scanning device that works a little like ultrasound. While ultrasound captures images by bouncing sound waves off of living tissues, OCT does it with light waves.
How is Stargardt disease passed down from parent to parent?
Usually Stargardt disease is passed down from parents. With the classic Stargardt disease, faulty genes (the ABCA4 gene) must be passed down from both parents to have symptoms. Someone who has the gene from only one parent will be a carrier for Stargardt disease, but will not have symptoms.