MedGen

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is characterized by slowly progressive ataxia with onset usually before age 25 years (mean age at onset: 10-15 yrs). FRDA is typically associated with dysarthria, muscle weakness, spasticity particularly in the lower limbs, scoliosis, bladder dysfunction, absent lower-limb reflexes, and loss of position and vibration sense. Approximately two thirds of individuals with FRDA have cardiomyopathy, up to 30% have diabetes mellitus, and approximately 25% have an "atypical" presentation with later onset or retained tendon reflexes. [from GeneReviews]

Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the RHO gene. [from MONDO]

The spectrum of COL4A1-related disorders includes: small-vessel brain disease of varying severity including porencephaly, variably associated with eye defects (retinal arterial tortuosity, Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly, cataract) and systemic findings (kidney involvement, muscle cramps, cerebral aneurysms, Raynaud phenomenon, cardiac arrhythmia, and hemolytic anemia). On imaging studies, small-vessel brain disease is manifest as diffuse periventricular leukoencephalopathy, lacunar infarcts, microhemorrhage, dilated perivascular spaces, and deep intracerebral hemorrhages. Clinically, small-vessel brain disease manifests as infantile hemiparesis, seizures, single or recurrent hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and isolated migraine with aura. Porencephaly (fluid-filled cavities in the brain detected by CT or MRI) is typically manifest as infantile hemiparesis, seizures, and intellectual disability; however, on occasion it can be an incidental finding. HANAC (hereditary angiopathy with nephropathy, aneurysms, and muscle cramps) syndrome usually associates asymptomatic small-vessel brain disease, cerebral large vessel involvement (i.e., aneurysms), and systemic findings involving the kidney, muscle, and small vessels of the eye. Two additional phenotypes include isolated retinal artery tortuosity and nonsyndromic autosomal dominant congenital cataract. [from GeneReviews]

VCAN-related vitreoretinopathy, which includes Wagner syndrome and erosive vitreoretinopathy (ERVR), is characterized by "optically empty vitreous" on slit-lamp examination and avascular vitreous strands and veils, mild or occasionally moderate to severe myopia, presenile cataract, night blindness of variable degree associated with progressive chorioretinal atrophy, retinal traction and retinal detachment in the advanced stages of disease, and reduced visual acuity. Optic nerve inversion as well as uveitis has also been described. Systemic abnormalities are not observed. The first signs usually become apparent during early adolescence, but onset can be as early as age two years. [from GeneReviews]

Retinitis pigmentosa-39 (RP39) is characterized by the typical features of RP, including constriction of visual fields and reduced vision, with the fundus showing bone-spicule pigment deposition and attenuation of retinal vessels (Kaiserman et al., 2007; Jung et al., 2023). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), see 268000. [from OMIM]

Leber congenital amaurosis, also known as LCA, is an eye disorder that is present from birth (congenital). This condition primarily affects the retina, which is the specialized tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and color. People with this disorder typically have severe visual impairment beginning at birth or shortly afterward. The visual impairment tends to be severe and may worsen over time.

A specific behavior called Franceschetti's oculo-digital sign is characteristic of Leber congenital amaurosis. This sign consists of affected individuals poking, pressing, and rubbing their eyes with a knuckle or finger. Poking their eyes often results in the sensation of flashes of light called phosphenes. Researchers suspect that this behavior may contribute to deep-set eyes in affected children.

Leber congenital amaurosis is also associated with other vision problems, including an increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), involuntary movements of the eyes (nystagmus), and extreme farsightedness (hyperopia). The pupils, which usually expand and contract in response to the amount of light entering the eye, do not react normally to light. Instead, they expand and contract more slowly than normal, or they may not respond to light at all.

At least 20 genetic types of Leber congenital amaurosis have been described. The types are distinguished by their genetic cause, patterns of vision loss, and related eye abnormalities.

In very rare cases, delayed development and intellectual disability have been reported in people with the features of Leber congenital amaurosis. Because of the visual loss, affected children may become isolated. Providing children with opportunities to play, hear, touch, understand and other early educational interventions may prevent developmental delays in children with Leber congenital amaurosis. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the TOPORS gene. [from MONDO]

Retinitis pigmentosa-56 (RP56) is an early-onset form of RP with progressive visual-field loss and deterioration of visual acuity (Bandah-Rozenfeld et al., 2010). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of retinitis pigmentosa, see 268000. [from OMIM]

Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by delayed development, moderately impaired intellectual development, and optic atrophy. Most patients also have evidence of cerebral visual impairment. Dysmorphic facial features are variable and nonspecific (summary by Bosch et al., 2014). [from OMIM]

Craniosynostosis is a primary abnormality of skull growth involving premature fusion of the cranial sutures such that the growth velocity of the skull often cannot match that of the developing brain. This produces skull deformity and, in some cases, raises intracranial pressure, which must be treated promptly to avoid permanent neurodevelopmental disability (summary by Fitzpatrick, 2013). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of craniosynostosis, see CRS1 (123100). [from OMIM]

Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the MAK gene. [from MONDO]

Any congenital stationary night blindness in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the RHO gene. [from MONDO]

CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy is characterized by nonspecific neurologic findings, mild visual impairment from chorioretinopathy or optic atrophy, male infertility, and characteristic findings on brain MRI. Neurologic findings include mild ataxia (action tremor and gait instability following initially normal motor development; occasionally, mild spasticity), cognitive impairment in some (typically mild, rarely severe), psychiatric symptoms in some (depression and schizophrenia-like symptoms), headaches in some (usually intermittent, severe, and diffuse) and auditory symptoms in some (hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo). Affected individuals remain ambulatory, do not require support for walking, and rarely become blind. To date CLCN2-related leukoencephalopathy has been reported or identified in 31 individuals from 30 families. It is not yet known if the findings occurring in a few individuals (i.e., epilepsy and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia) are part of the phenotypic spectrum or unrelated findings. [from GeneReviews]

Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the HGSNAT gene. [from MONDO]

Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the SLC7A14 gene. [from MONDO]

Spastic paraplegia-74 (SPG74) is an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder characterized by onset of slowly progressive lower limb spasticity, optic atrophy, and peripheral neuropathy in the first decade (summary by Lossos et al., 2015). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia, see SPG5A (270800). [from OMIM]

Macular dystrophies are inherited retinal dystrophies in which various forms of deposits, pigmentary changes, and atrophic lesions are observed in the macula lutea, the cone-rich region of the central retina. Vitelliform macular dystrophies (VMDs) form a subset of macular dystrophies characterized by round yellow deposits, usually at the center of the macula and containing lipofuscin, a chemically heterogeneous pigment visualized by autofluorescence imaging of the fundus (summary by Manes et al., 2013). In contrast to typical VMD (see 153700), patients with atypical VMD may exhibit normal electrooculography, even when severe loss of vision is present, and fluorescein angiography is thus the most reliable test for identifying affected individuals (Hittner et al., 1984). Genetic Heterogeneity of Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy See also vitelliform macular dystrophy-2 (VMD2; 153700), caused by mutation in the BEST1 gene (607854) on chromosome 11q12; VMD3 (608161), caused by mutation in the PRPH2 gene (179605) on chromosome 6p21; VMD4 (616151), caused by mutation in the IMPG1 gene (602870) on chromosome 6q14; and VMD5 (616152), caused by mutation in the IMPG2 gene (607056) on chromosome 3q12. [from OMIM]

A rare genetic eye disease with characteristics of congenital profound excavation of the optic nerve head with diminished visual field, in the absence of elevated intraocular pressure. Many patients lack a well-formed retinal artery and have multiple radial cilioretinal arteries instead. The condition is mostly bilateral, may worsen progressively, and is often complicated by serous macular detachment with profound visual loss. [from SNOMEDCT_US]

Retinitis pigmentosa-78 (RP78) is an autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy that presents in the third to fourth decade with central visual disturbance, visual field defects, and nyctalopia. Fundus examination reveals optic disc pallor, attenuated retinal vessels, and irregular midperipheral intraretinal pigment migration (Arno et al., 2017). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of retinitis pigmentosa, see 268000. [from OMIM]

Primary closed-angle glaucoma (GLCC) is characterized by age-related variation in the degree of iridocorneal angle closure and its sequelae, with patients in the first 3 decades of life showing a normal eye exam, whereas older patients progressively show more evidence of angle closure and glaucomatous damage, including optic nerve head changes and visual field defects (Suri et al., 2018). [from OMIM]