Definition:
Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a disease characterized by the deterioration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGC) that results to permanent loss of eye vision. This disease commonly affects males.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of the disease can be done by a procedure called optical coherence topography to find a more detailed picture of the swelling nerves.
Treatment:
Treatment can be done by administering special anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these drugs are still under trial procedures and haven’t been proven be fully effective.
Symptoms and Signs:
The first symptom that arises in the disease is vision loss. Several weeks later, an edema-looking bundle of vessels can be found in the eye, which causes pain and eventual blindness.
Causes:
LHON is a mitochondrial defect caused by genetic mutations.
