Optic Atrophy
By Autumn and Sarah

What are the effects?

Optic atrophy effects your vision and causes progressive vision loss that typically begins within the first decade of life. It causes inflammation of the optic nerve.

What causes optic atrophy?

Optic atrophy is caused by mutations in the OPA1 gene. It's inherited in a autosomal dominant pattern. (1 copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.)

Is there a cure or treatment for optic atrophy?

Optic atrophy is NOT curable. Damage to the optic nerve cannot be reversed. Rarely conditions that lead to optic atrophy may be treatable.

Can you prevent optic atrophy?

The best defense of optic atrophy is an early diagnosis. If the cause can be found and corrected, further vision loss can be prevented.

Interesting Facts

Atrophy means to waste away or deteriorate.

Optic atrophy is most common in Denmark. It effects 1 in 50,000 people worldwide. In Denmark, 1 in 10,000 people are effected by optic atrophy.