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Severely reduced visual acuity

MedGen UID:
226987
Concept ID:
C1301509
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Severe visual impairment
SNOMED CT: Severe visual impairment (397541004)
 
HPO: HP:0001141

Definition

Severe reduction of the ability to see. On the 6m visual acuity scale, severe reduction is defined as less than 6/60 but at least 3/60. On the 20ft visual acuity scale, severe reduction is defined as less than 20/200 but at least 20/400. On the decimal visual acuity scale, severe reduction is defined as less than 0.1 but at least 0.05. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • Severely reduced visual acuity

Conditions with this feature

Ocular albinism, type II
MedGen UID:
120643
Concept ID:
C0268505
Disease or Syndrome
Aland Island eye disease (AIED) is an X-linked recessive retinal disease characterized by fundus hypopigmentation, decreased visual acuity, nystagmus, astigmatism, protan color vision defect (303900), progressive myopia, and defective dark adaptation. Although AIED has been referred to as a form of albinism, there is no misrouting of the optic nerves, which excludes it from the formal diagnosis of classic albinism (King et al., 2001).
Severe X-linked intellectual disability, Gustavson type
MedGen UID:
167088
Concept ID:
C0795965
Disease or Syndrome
The Gustavson type of X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder (MRXSG) is characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, microcephaly, hypotonia, and severe global developmental delay, usually resulting in death in infancy or early childhood. Affected males have profoundly impaired intellectual development with absent speech, poor reaction to stimuli, optic atrophy, deafness, seizures, spasticity, and restriction of the large joints. Female carriers are usually unaffected due to skewed X inactivation that silences the pathogenic allele, although 1 severely affected female has been reported (Johansson et al., 2024).
Retinitis pigmentosa 23
MedGen UID:
238456
Concept ID:
C1419610
Disease or Syndrome
Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the OFD1 gene.
ALG3-congenital disorder of glycosylation
MedGen UID:
322026
Concept ID:
C1832736
Disease or Syndrome
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by enzymatic defects in the synthesis and processing of asparagine (N)-linked glycans or oligosaccharides on glycoproteins. Type I CDGs comprise defects in the assembly of the dolichol lipid-linked oligosaccharide (LLO) chain and its transfer to the nascent protein. These disorders can be identified by a characteristic abnormal isoelectric focusing profile of plasma transferrin (Leroy, 2006). CDG1D is a type I CDG that generally presents with severe neurologic involvement associated with dysmorphism and visual impairment. Liver involvement is sometimes present (summary by Marques-da-Silva et al., 2017). For a discussion of the classification of CDGs, see CDG1A (212065).
Senior-Loken syndrome 4
MedGen UID:
337697
Concept ID:
C1846979
Disease or Syndrome
Senior-Loken syndrome-4 (SLSN4) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the association of the cystic renal disorder nephronophthisis with late-onset retinitis pigmentosa (Schuermann et al., 2002). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of Senior-Loken syndrome, see 266900.
Corneal-cerebellar syndrome
MedGen UID:
341379
Concept ID:
C1849087
Disease or Syndrome
Syndrome with the unusual combination of spinocerebellar degeneration and corneal dystrophy. Three sisters born to normal consanguineous parents have been reported, one of who had only minor spinocerebellar signs without ocular involvement. This autosomal recessive syndrome differs from the Mousa-Al-Din-Al-Nassar syndrome by the subnormal intellectual development and the epithelial (versus stromal) nature of the corneal dystrophy.
Achromatopsia 3
MedGen UID:
340413
Concept ID:
C1849792
Disease or Syndrome
Achromatopsia is characterized by reduced visual acuity, pendular nystagmus, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), a small central scotoma, eccentric fixation, and reduced or complete loss of color discrimination. All individuals with achromatopsia (achromats) have impaired color discrimination along all three axes of color vision corresponding to the three cone classes: the protan or long-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (red), the deutan or middle-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (green), and the tritan or short-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (blue). Most individuals have complete achromatopsia, with total lack of function of all three types of cones. Rarely, individuals have incomplete achromatopsia, in which one or more cone types may be partially functioning. The manifestations are similar to those of individuals with complete achromatopsia, but generally less severe. Hyperopia is common in achromatopsia. Nystagmus develops during the first few weeks after birth followed by increased sensitivity to bright light. Best visual acuity varies with severity of the disease; it is 20/200 or less in complete achromatopsia and may be as high as 20/80 in incomplete achromatopsia. Visual acuity is usually stable over time; both nystagmus and sensitivity to bright light may improve slightly. Although the fundus is usually normal, macular changes (which may show early signs of progression) and vessel narrowing may be present in some affected individuals. Defects in the macula are visible on optical coherence tomography.
Leber congenital amaurosis 6
MedGen UID:
344245
Concept ID:
C1854260
Congenital Abnormality
Leber congenital amaurosis comprises a group of early-onset childhood retinal dystrophies characterized by vision loss, nystagmus, and severe retinal dysfunction. Patients usually present at birth with profound vision loss and pendular nystagmus. Electroretinogram (ERG) responses are usually nonrecordable. Other clinical findings may include high hypermetropia, photodysphoria, oculodigital sign, keratoconus, cataracts, and a variable appearance to the fundus (summary by Chung and Traboulsi, 2009). For a general description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of LCA, see 204000.
Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis 5
MedGen UID:
409627
Concept ID:
C1968603
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis-5 is a form of infantile malignant osteopetrosis, characterized by defective osteoclast function resulting in decreased bone resorption and generalized osteosclerosis. Defective resorption causes development of densely sclerotic fragile bones and progressive obliteration of the marrow spaces and cranial foramina. Marrow obliteration is associated with extramedullary hematopoiesis and hepatosplenomegaly, and results in anemia and thrombocytopenia, whereas nerve entrapment accounts for progressive blindness and hearing loss. Other major manifestations include failure to thrive, pathologic fractures, and increased infection rate. Most affected children succumb to severe bone marrow failure and overwhelming infection in the first few years of life (Quarello et al., 2004).
Retinitis pigmentosa 41
MedGen UID:
383126
Concept ID:
C2677516
Disease or Syndrome
Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the PROM1 gene.
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 1
MedGen UID:
419514
Concept ID:
C2931875
Disease or Syndrome
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism, a bleeding diathesis, and, in some individuals, pulmonary fibrosis, granulomatous colitis, or immunodeficiency. Ocular findings include reduced iris pigment with iris transillumination, reduced retinal pigment, foveal hypoplasia with significant reduction in visual acuity (usually in the range of 20/50 to 20/400), nystagmus, and increased crossing of the optic nerve fibers. Hair color ranges from white to brown; skin color ranges from white to olive and is usually a shade lighter than that of other family members. The bleeding diathesis can result in variable bruising, epistaxis, gingival bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage, colonic bleeding, and prolonged bleeding with menses or after tooth extraction, circumcision, and other surgeries. Pulmonary fibrosis, a restrictive lung disease, typically causes symptoms in the early thirties and can progress to death within a decade. Granulomatous colitis is severe in about 15% of affected individuals. Neutropenia and/or immune defects occur primarily in individuals with pathogenic variants in AP3B1 and AP3D1.
Retinitis pigmentosa 58
MedGen UID:
462229
Concept ID:
C3150879
Disease or Syndrome
Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the ZNF513 gene.
Retinitis pigmentosa 20
MedGen UID:
462436
Concept ID:
C3151086
Disease or Syndrome
Any retinitis pigmentosa in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the RPE65 gene.
Wolfram-like syndrome
MedGen UID:
481988
Concept ID:
C3280358
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal dominant Wolfram-like syndrome (WFSL) is characterized by the clinical triad of congenital progressive hearing impairment, diabetes mellitus, and optic atrophy. The hearing impairment, which is usually diagnosed in the first decade of life, is relatively constant and alters mainly low- and middle-frequency ranges (summary by Valero et al., 2008). Wolfram syndrome (WFS1; 222300) is an autosomal recessive allelic disorder characterized by optic atrophy, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and diabetes insipidus, and is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation in the WFS1 gene. An autosomal dominant syndrome involving optic atrophy with or without deafness, ophthalmoplegia, myopathy, ataxia, and neuropathy (125250), is caused by heterozygous mutation in the OPA1 gene (605290).
Cataract 40
MedGen UID:
886621
Concept ID:
C4049004
Congenital Abnormality
Any early-onset non-syndromic cataract in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the NHS gene.
Retinal dystrophy and microvillus inclusion disease
MedGen UID:
1794153
Concept ID:
C5561943
Disease or Syndrome
Retinal dystrophy and microvillus inclusion disease (RDMVID) is characterized by early-onset severe retinal dystrophy in association with intractable congenital diarrhea requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Intestinal biopsies show typical features of microvillus inclusion disease (MVID), including loss of microvilli, microvillus inclusions, and accumulation of subapical vesicles in epithelial cells (Janecke et al., 2021). Because STX3 isoform B (STX3B) predominates in the retina, mutations in the STX3 gene that affect both isoform A (STX3A) and STX3B cause both retinal and gastrointestinal disease (RDMVID), whereas mutations in STX3 affecting only the STX3A transcript cause only diarrhea (DIAR12; 619445).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Sheheitli H, Persad PJ, Feuer WJ, Sayed MS, Lee RK
Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2021 Sep-Oct;4(5):472-481. Epub 2021 Jan 8 doi: 10.1016/j.ogla.2020.12.014. PMID: 33429109
Augstburger E, Héron E, Abanou A, Habas C, Baudouin C, Labbé A
J Fr Ophtalmol 2020 Feb;43(2):e41-e54. Epub 2020 Jan 15 doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2019.12.002. PMID: 31952875
Park SH
Korean J Ophthalmol 2019 Dec;33(6):557-568. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2019.0061. PMID: 31833253Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Birtel J, von Landenberg C, Gliem M, Gliem C, Reimann J, Kunz WS, Herrmann P, Betz C, Caswell R, Nesbitt V, Kornblum C, Charbel Issa P
Ophthalmol Retina 2022 Jan;6(1):65-79. Epub 2021 Jul 10 doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2021.02.017. PMID: 34257060
Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, Gerber MR, Brown DM, Heier JS, Wykoff CC, Singerman LJ, Abraham P, Grassmann F, Nuernberg P, Weber BHF, Deschatelets P, Kim RY, Chung CY, Ribeiro RM, Hamdani M, Rosenfeld PJ, Boyer DS, Slakter JS, Francois CG
Ophthalmology 2020 Feb;127(2):186-195. Epub 2019 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.07.011. PMID: 31474439
Chan NS, Choi J, Cheung CMG
Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2018 May-Jun;7(3):192-199. Epub 2018 Apr 23 doi: 10.22608/APO.2018116. PMID: 29682916
Lagrèze WA, Schaeffel F
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2017 Sep 4;114(35-36):575-580. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0575. PMID: 28927495Free PMC Article
Arch Ophthalmol 1985 Dec;103(12):1796-806. PMID: 2866759

Diagnosis

Birtel J, von Landenberg C, Gliem M, Gliem C, Reimann J, Kunz WS, Herrmann P, Betz C, Caswell R, Nesbitt V, Kornblum C, Charbel Issa P
Ophthalmol Retina 2022 Jan;6(1):65-79. Epub 2021 Jul 10 doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2021.02.017. PMID: 34257060
Bonini S, Di Zazzo A, Varacalli G, Coassin M
Curr Eye Res 2021 Jun;46(6):771-776. Epub 2020 Nov 29 doi: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1846753. PMID: 33151784
Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, Gerber MR, Brown DM, Heier JS, Wykoff CC, Singerman LJ, Abraham P, Grassmann F, Nuernberg P, Weber BHF, Deschatelets P, Kim RY, Chung CY, Ribeiro RM, Hamdani M, Rosenfeld PJ, Boyer DS, Slakter JS, Francois CG
Ophthalmology 2020 Feb;127(2):186-195. Epub 2019 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.07.011. PMID: 31474439
Park SH
Korean J Ophthalmol 2019 Dec;33(6):557-568. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2019.0061. PMID: 31833253Free PMC Article
Chan NS, Choi J, Cheung CMG
Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2018 May-Jun;7(3):192-199. Epub 2018 Apr 23 doi: 10.22608/APO.2018116. PMID: 29682916

Therapy

Brown DM, Wykoff CC, Boyer D, Heier JS, Clark WL, Emanuelli A, Higgins PM, Singer M, Weinreich DM, Yancopoulos GD, Berliner AJ, Chu K, Reed K, Cheng Y, Vitti R
JAMA Ophthalmol 2021 Sep 1;139(9):946-955. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.2809. PMID: 34351414Free PMC Article
Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, Gerber MR, Brown DM, Heier JS, Wykoff CC, Singerman LJ, Abraham P, Grassmann F, Nuernberg P, Weber BHF, Deschatelets P, Kim RY, Chung CY, Ribeiro RM, Hamdani M, Rosenfeld PJ, Boyer DS, Slakter JS, Francois CG
Ophthalmology 2020 Feb;127(2):186-195. Epub 2019 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.07.011. PMID: 31474439
Lagrèze WA, Schaeffel F
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2017 Sep 4;114(35-36):575-580. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0575. PMID: 28927495Free PMC Article
Writing Committee for the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, Gross JG, Glassman AR, Jampol LM, Inusah S, Aiello LP, Antoszyk AN, Baker CW, Berger BB, Bressler NM, Browning D, Elman MJ, Ferris FL 3rd, Friedman SM, Marcus DM, Melia M, Stockdale CR, Sun JK, Beck RW
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Arch Ophthalmol 1995 Dec;113(12):1479-96. PMID: 7487614

Prognosis

Liu W, Bai D, Kou L
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Maharana PK, Sharma N, Das S, Agarwal T, Sen S, Prakash G, Vajpayee RB
Ocul Surf 2016 Jan;14(1):20-30. Epub 2015 Oct 17 doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2015.08.006. PMID: 26462409
Elagouz M, Stanescu-Segall D, Jackson TL
Surv Ophthalmol 2010 Mar-Apr;55(2):134-45. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2009.05.003. PMID: 20159229
Ophthalmology 1991 May;98(5 Suppl):741-56. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(13)38009-9. PMID: 2062510

Clinical prediction guides

Maturi RK, Glassman AR, Josic K, Baker CW, Gerstenblith AT, Jampol LM, Meleth A, Martin DF, Melia M, Punjabi OS, Rofagha S, Salehi-Had H, Stockdale CR, Sun JK; DRCR Retina Network
JAMA 2023 Feb 7;329(5):376-385. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.25029. PMID: 36749332Free PMC Article
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Liao DS, Grossi FV, El Mehdi D, Gerber MR, Brown DM, Heier JS, Wykoff CC, Singerman LJ, Abraham P, Grassmann F, Nuernberg P, Weber BHF, Deschatelets P, Kim RY, Chung CY, Ribeiro RM, Hamdani M, Rosenfeld PJ, Boyer DS, Slakter JS, Francois CG
Ophthalmology 2020 Feb;127(2):186-195. Epub 2019 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.07.011. PMID: 31474439
Lagrèze WA, Schaeffel F
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2017 Sep 4;114(35-36):575-580. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0575. PMID: 28927495Free PMC Article
Arch Ophthalmol 1995 Dec;113(12):1479-96. PMID: 7487614

Recent systematic reviews

Vandevenne MM, Favuzza E, Veta M, Lucenteforte E, Berendschot TT, Mencucci R, Nuijts RM, Virgili G, Dickman MM
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Kataoka SY, Lois N, Kawano S, Kataoka Y, Inoue K, Watanabe N
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