Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Leber Congenital Amaurosis

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a disorder that affects the retina, the layer in the back of the eye responsible for capturing images. Beginning in infancy, individuals affected by LCA tend to have a significant visual impairment. Visual impairments occur because of retinal degeneration and abnormal function. The retina contains photoreceptor cells, which are responsible for sensing light. The photoreceptor cells do not work in Leber congenital amaurosis patients, which results in the eye's inability to capture images. LCA is caused by a genetic mutation inherited from an affected individual's parents. Mutations in nineteen different genes can cause this condition. These genes encode instructions on how to produce proteins required for proper eyesight. Light sensitivity, involuntary eye movements, eye rubbing, and farsightedness are all characteristic symptoms of Leber congenital amaurosis.