What do you see with Stargardt disease?

The most common symptom of Stargardt disease is a slow loss of central vision in both eyes. Some people lose their central vision more quickly than others. Other symptoms may include: Gray, black, or hazy spots in the center of your vision.

How stem cells are used in the treatment of Stargardt’s disease?

“There is currently no treatment for Stargardt’s disease,” said Dr. Robert Lanza, ACT’s Chief Scientific Officer. “Using stem cells, we can generate a virtually unlimited supply of healthy RPE cells, which are the first cells to die off in [Stargardt’s] and other forms of macular degeneration.”

Is Retinitis Pigmentosa the same as Stargardt?

Stargardt’s disease (STGD) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) are inherited retinal degenerations that may be affected, in opposite way, by diet.

Does Stargardt affect both eyes?

Stargardt’s disease is the most common form of juvenile macular degeneration, affecting one in 10,000 children in the United States. 1 Named for Karl Stargardt, a German ophthalmologist, the disease affects both eyes and develops sometime between the ages of 5 and early adulthood.

Can you go blind from Stargardt disease?

In Stargardt’s disease, there is a genetic defect that causes the photoreceptors of the eye to die. Vision loss begins slowly and then rapidly progresses, affecting central vision so severely that it causes an affected person to become legally blind while preserving peripheral vision.

What diseases can be treated with stem cells?

People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis.

Is Stargardt’s disease rare?

Stargardt macular degeneration is the most common form of juvenile macular degeneration, the signs and symptoms of which begin in childhood. The estimated prevalence of Stargardt macular degeneration is 1 in 8,000 to 10,000 individuals.

Which imaging findings are characteristic of Stargardt disease?

Fluorescein angiography (FA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) can help diagnose and characterize Stargardt disease. The hallmark finding on imaging of Stargardt disease is a “dark choroid” on FA ( Fig. 2 ).

What is Stargardt disease of the eye?

Stargardt disease is a rare genetic eye disease that happens when fatty material builds up on the macula — the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision. Vision loss usually starts in childhood — but some people with Stargardt disease don’t start to lose their vision until they’re adults.

What is the difference between Stargardt syndrome and fundus flavimaculatus?

It should be pointed that Stargardt and fundus flavimaculatus differ in important aspects. Patients with fundus flavimaculatus often have a later disease onset and slower visual deterioration, making fundus flavimaculatus a milder condition.

What does fafaf tell us about early Stargardt disease?

FAF in early Stargardt disease reveals hyperautofluorescence in areas of lipofuscin accumulation, which is often the first detectable change on imaging, 4 and hypoautofluorescence in areas of RPE atrophy ( Fig. 3 ).