Original Research

Ocular manifestations of mitochondrial disease

S. D. Mathebula
African Vision and Eye Health | South African Optometrist: Vol 71, No 1 | a63 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aveh.v71i1.63 | © 2012 S. D. Mathebula | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 08 December 2012 | Published: 09 December 2012

About the author(s)

S. D. Mathebula, Department of Optometry, University of Limpopo, South Africa

Full Text:

PDF (674KB)

Abstract

Mitochondrial disease caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA is recognized as one of the most common causes of inherited neurological disease. Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations are a common feature of mitochondrial disease.  Optic atrophy causing central visual loss is the dominant feature of mitochondrial DNA diseases. Nystagmus is also encountered in mitochondrial disease.Although optometrists are not involved with the management of mitochondrial disease, they are likely to see more patients with this disease. Oph-thalmic examination forms part of the clinical assessment of mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease should be suspected in any patient with unexplained optic neuropathy, ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy or retrochiasmal visual loss. Despite considerable advances in the under-standing of mitochondrial genetics and the patho-genesis of mtDNA diseases, no effective treatment options are currently available for patients withmitochondrial dysfunction. (S Afr Optom 201271(1) 46-50)


Keywords

dominant optic atrophy; genes; Leber hereditary optic neuropathy; mitochondrial disease; DNA mutation; neuro-ophthalmology

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3330
Total article views: 3877


Crossref Citations

No related citations found.