Stargardt disease is an inherited form of macular degeneration that affects the macula – the area of retina responsible for central vision and color perception – typically appearing during childhood or adolescence.

This condition causes gradual loss of central vision in both eyes, leading to blackened areas (known as central scotomas) and decreased color perception, as well as difficulty driving and reading.

1. Wear Sunglasses

Stargardt disease is an inherited condition that causes progressive loss of central vision in both eyes. Typically affecting children or adolescents in early adolescence, symptoms begin manifesting themselves in blurriness or blind spots in their center of vision – the macula being responsible for central vision and color perception; it has also been known as macular degeneration or juvenile macular degeneration – making Stargardt disease one of the most frequent types of macular dystrophy.

This condition is caused by sequence variants in the ABCA4 gene, which provides instructions for producing a protein that transports retinaldehyde. Mutations within this gene lead to lipofuscin accumulation within retinal pigment epithelial cells, leading to breakdown of macula and eventual vision loss.

There is no cure for macular degeneration; therefore it must be managed by employing low-vision aids and adopting an eye care regime that helps slow its progress. Patients can protect their eyes with sunglasses that offer UV protection as well as eating a diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamin A and C-rich foods to minimize progression of their eye health and seek medical assistance immediately if vision deteriorates. Regular eye exams will help manage progress of eye health; should it worsen they should seek medical assistance immediately if vision worsens.

As their disease advances, your child will struggle with reading, driving and recognising faces or facial expressions. Refocusing their eyes may become challenging after switching between indoor and outdoor light sources; dimly lit environments may pose further difficulty for them. Your child may rely on others for assistance as they navigate the world around them and will require help navigating computer and phone screens. People affected by Stargardt’s should seek professional counseling as this can be an emotionally devastating time, and connecting with other Stargardt’s sufferers may provide comfort and strength. Stargardt’s disease sufferers can find many resources available to them, including low-vision aids like magnifying glasses and telescopes as well as special software designed to work on computers and phones. Furthermore, they should consider attending a vision rehabilitation program in order to learn how to cope safely and effectively with their condition.

2. Manage Your Diet

Stargardt disease occurs when fatty material accumulates on the macula, an area of retina responsible for central vision. Usually diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood, Stargardt can lead to progressive loss of vision over time unless treated effectively; however there are currently being tested therapies which could potentially slow its progress.

Stargardt disease symptoms differ according to each individual and the eye affected, such as different choroidal patterns that have been associated with it and could predict severity of vision decline. While it is impossible to reverse or cure Stargardt disease, ophthalmologists can offer low-vision aids or therapeutic solutions that could improve quality of life and help you cope better with it.

Diseased photoreceptor cells produce lipofuscin that builds up over time, eventually resulting in central vision loss. When ABCA4 does not function correctly, lipofuscin accumulates and the degeneration of photoreceptor cells occurs resulting in central vision loss.

Diet is one of the best ways to manage symptoms associated with Stargardt disease and promote eye health. According to experts, eating foods rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E and zinc as well as lutein and zeaxanthin may help protect eyes from damage; such nutrients can be found in numerous fruits and vegetables.

Regular visits to an ophthalmologist are crucial in monitoring Stargardt disease, and may help stave off further complications. An ophthalmologist may use diagnostic tests such as fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography and electrophysiology to detect symptoms and devise a treatment plan.

Genetic counseling can also be invaluable in understanding the inheritance pattern of Stargardt disease and your risk of passing it along to future generations. With this knowledge in hand, informed decisions about family planning and genetic testing may become possible, with gene therapy potentially becoming available as a treatment option in future years.

3. Consider Low-Vision Aids

An individual with low vision often needs a range of assistive devices to complete daily tasks, including reading glasses, telescopic lenses, hand-held magnifiers and electronic magnifiers. Some individuals may require white canes, wheelchairs or mobility aids – as well as hearing devices – depending on the circumstances surrounding their low vision condition. Rehabilitation specialists can assist in identifying the most appropriate equipment to meet individual requirements.

Your doctor may suggest additional eye tests and diagnostic procedures, in addition to low-vision aids, that can detect retinal damage that is linked with Stargardt disease. These can help detect thinning or cracking that occurs as part of this disorder. Optometric Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive and high-resolution scan of your retina which allows your doctor to view its structure and assess any areas of thinning or damage in real time. Electroretinography (ERG) testing can also help diagnose Stargardt disease noninvasively, by measuring how the retina reacts electrically when stimulated with light waves. ERG allows clinicians to analyze electrical responses of retina to light stimulation and can confirm diagnosis or indicate whether you carry the gene mutation associated with Stargardt.

Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition characterized by abnormal fat deposits beneath the macula and loss of functional cones, leading to central visual acuity decline over time, starting as early as childhood or adolescence and ultimately leading to difficulty reading, driving or identifying objects or faces.

If you have been diagnosed with Stargardt disease, it is essential that you visit your physician regularly in order to track your progress and discover low-vision aids which could help meet your goals.

One case study illustrated how one patient with Stargardt disease experienced significant and sustained improvements in distance best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and color vision after topical application of low dose echothiophate iodide (0.015%) cholinergic medication – perhaps providing hope to his hereditary macular degeneration disorder that currently ranks as one of the main causes of legal blindness among children and young adults.

4. See Your Eye Care Professional

Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal condition that attacks the macula, or area responsible for sharp central vision. As one of several forms of juvenile macular degeneration, Stargardt can cause blurriness, distortion and blind spots in central vision – typically appearing during childhood or early adulthood and progressing slowly over time. There are ways to slow its progress down further while vision aids can maximize remaining visual acuity.

Stargardt eye disease is caused by changes to the ABCA4 gene, which provides instructions for producing a protein used to dispose of waste products produced during Vitamin A processing in retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPEs). When altered, this protein no longer functions correctly and waste materials accumulate and damage RPE cells, eventually leading to central vision loss and eventual blindness.

Since this disease is autosomal recessive, which means that each parent inherits one copy of a gene mutation from the child, regular visits with an ophthalmologist who specializes in heritable retinal diseases should be scheduled regularly.

Your doctor will use several tests during an eye exam for Stargardt disease to assess your vision and gauge its severity, such as electroretinography (which measures electrical response of retina to light and can detect abnormalities that could indicate Stargardt’s) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to create detailed images of retina, which will identify any thinned areas or damage, so your physician can design an appropriate treatment plan.

Other diagnostic tools include visual acuity tests, color vision assessments and Amsler grid testing. Furthermore, genetic testing may also be utilized to confirm diagnosis and identify carriers of any genetic mutations; providing families with this valuable insight to make more informed decisions regarding family planning or genetic counseling services.