Stargardt disease is a genetic condition in which fatty material accumulates in the macula of the retina, the portion responsible for central vision. Vision loss typically begins in childhood or adolescence and progresses gradually over time.

Gene mutations cause proteins to block the passage of nutrients and waste to and from the macula, leading to accumulation of lipofuscin material in its region.

1. Eat a Healthy Diet

Stargardt Eye Disease involves an accumulation of fats beneath the macula, the small area of retina responsible for central vision. As the disease progresses, central vision begins to decline or even vanish completely – leading to difficulty reading, driving and recognising faces or facial expressions; dimly lit environments will likely prove challenging as your child finds difficulty adapting. Central vision deterioration usually begins during childhood or adolescence but is frequently misdiagnosed until adulthood has set in.

The condition is caused by sequence variants in the ABCA4 gene that provide instructions for making a protein important to vision processing in the retina. This protein transports an essential substance necessary to convert light energy to electrochemical signals in the retina; mutations of this gene lead to improper function and accumulation of lipofuscin granules, leading to progressive loss of central vision and reduced color perception.

While there is no cure for macular degeneration, several interventions can help slow its progress. Wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats when outside can protect eyes from ultraviolet radiation while eating a diet high in antioxidants and vitamins can help support eye health.

One study, researchers reported, concluded that a Mediterranean diet rich in high-fat olive oil, saffron supplements, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly improved central retinal function among patients suffering from autosomal recessive form of Stargardt macular dystrophy. Low vision aids and phototherapy were also shown to improve central vision among these patients.

Another experimental treatment involves injecting eye with dye that stains blood vessels in the retina, enabling professionals to detect leakage from macula leakage and identify where fluid might be escaping.

Stargardt’s disease testing may be necessary for children and teens living with it, in order for them to gain an understanding of their symptoms and be properly diagnosed; they may find it hard to accept that their central vision is slowly diminishing; they should discuss it openly with family, seek support from other people living with the condition, as well as seek professional counselling if required.

2. Wear Sunglasses

Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal condition affecting the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. This genetic disease causes fatty material to build up in the macula, potentially leading to central vision loss. Stargardt is caused by mutations in ABCA4 gene which alters how your eyes use vitamin A; when this gene ceases functioning properly, waste materials from Vitamin A cannot be processed and disposed off efficiently leading to accumulation of fatty deposits in macula leading to destruction of light sensitive cells resulting in central vision loss accompanied by gray, black or blurry spots within your field of vision – symptoms include gray/black or blurry spots at center field of vision and symptoms such as gray/black or blurry spots within field of view.

Often seen in children or adolescence, this disease typically begins early and slowly progresses over time. Untreated cases tend to see their central visual acuity start declining gradually – usually levelling off around 20/200 – leading to difficulties reading, recognizing pictures, letters or numbers, driving safely, seeing facial expressions clearly as well as difficulty adapting between bright and dim environments. You may notice your eyes taking longer to adapt between brightness levels.

Though there is no cure for Stargardt disease, there are a few treatments available to slow its progress and preserve quality of life. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist who specializes in inherited retinal diseases is important as he or she will detect fatty buildup under the macula and ineffective cones underneath, as well as recommend genetic testing for Stargardt.

Supplements rich in zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin may help slow the progression of Stargardt disease. Furthermore, wearing UV-protective sunglasses to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays – UV exposure has been known to accelerate its onset – can also help. Lastly, low-vision aids may be able to help maintain independence and continue enjoying favorite hobbies without interruption; such devices can be purchased from medical and optical stores and help read mail and bills, watch television or movies as well as use computers or smartphones more effectively.

Topical cholinergic medication has long been used to treat glaucoma and strabismus. Recently, however, studies published in Clinical Ophthalmology demonstrated that low dose echothiophate iodide could significantly improve central visual acuity for patients suffering from Stargardt disease by blocking specific enzymes that break down visual systems.

3. Manage Your Diet

As well as donning sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats to shield their eyes from UV radiation, consuming foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin can also help stall Stargardt disease’s progress. In addition, seeking regular eye exams from an ophthalmologist specializing in retinal diseases could also prove helpful.

People affected with Stargardt disease carry a genetic mutation of ABCA4, which produces the protein responsible for clearing away excess fatty material from the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). Without this protein, excess fatty material builds up in yellowish clumps in the macula, gradually killing off these cells and leading to central vision loss. If diagnosed with this condition, genetic counseling should be sought so as to understand its inheritance pattern and your chances of passing along any gene mutation to future generations.

4. Consider Low-Vision Aids

Stargardt disease is an inherited form of macular degeneration that impacts the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. A genetic mutation causes protein deposits to block nutrients and waste exiting the retina over time; eventually this causes its degeneration leading to blurry, smudgey or darkly shaded vision that eventually progresses to total blindness.

Progressive eye conditions often begin in childhood or early adolescence; however, symptoms can manifest later in life as well. Common signs include blurry or distorted vision, difficulty seeing text or faces clearly, trouble adapting to dim lighting conditions, color vision loss or visual illusions such as seeing shapes or patterns that don’t exist and experiencing color vision loss; over time this condition may lead to legal blindness.

Eye care professionals typically conduct a comprehensive eye exam in order to diagnose Stargardt’s. This may involve using an eye chart and Amsler grid tests for visual acuity; fluorescein angiography studies the retina’s circulation and detect leaking vessels that could contribute to macular degeneration; as well as genetic testing to confirm diagnosis and identify carriers who don’t exhibit symptoms but could pass along recessive genes that cause macular degeneration to their children.

Low-vision aids can significantly enhance your quality of life as you adapt to the progression of disease. Reading glasses and magnifying devices can make reading or other tasks easier; smartphone apps provide powerful magnifiers.

Research groups are actively investigating potential treatments for Stargardt’s. Proqr Therapeutics NV’s FDA-approved RNA exon editor is one such example; Ascidian Therapeutics Inc is working on creating an RNA molecule which corrects its source mutation.

Nanoscope Therapeutics, an optogenetics company developing gene-agnostic optogenetic therapies to treat retinal degenerative diseases including Stargardt’s macular degeneration, will present at the 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in New York City from July 13-16. Dr. Kaiser, clinical advisor to Nanoscope Therapeutics will share updates regarding its Phase 2b RESTORE trial and six month results from Phase 2b STARLIGHT trial for Stargardt’s at this year’s ASRS meeting.