Stargardt's Disease
Stargardt's disease is a degeneration of the central retina, of genetic origin. It affects the macula, which is responsible for seeing details. It’s the most common form of hereditary macular degeneration. This condition does not lead to blindness, as peripheral vision is preserved, even though vision of detail is severely affected.
Disease simulation
Definition and symptoms
Who can be affected by Stargardt's disease?
Stargardt's disease affects young men and women: it usually appears before the age of 20, about 1 to 5 in 10,000 people is affected. There may be a hereditary factor.
How does Stargardt's disease affect patient?
People with Stargardt's disease experience a more or less significant decrease in visual acuity (blurred vision) despite appropriate optical correction. It causes contrast vision to be impaired and causes an extensive central spot (called a scotoma) or "absent" area of vision to appear.
Treatments for Stargardt's Disease
There is no cure. Gene therapy trials are underway.
Possible difficulties faced by people with Stargardt's disease
People with Stargardt's disease have difficulty recognising faces and signs in the distance: road signs, film subtitles, pedestrian lights, etc. Reading a book, newspaper, magazine or information on a screen: the Internet, reading an e-mail are made difficult, as is looking at photos.