Retinal Ganglion Cell Analysis in Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a rare, maternally inherited disorder that results in bilateral loss of central vision. Characteristic visual field defects in LHON consist of either central or cecocentral scotomas, with about 70% of the patients being young adult men. More than 90% of these patients carry 1 of 3 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, located at nucleotide positions 3460, 11778, or 14484, respectively, although >20 mtDNA point mutations have been reported in LHON patients worldwide. Retinal ganglion cells decrease by apoptosis, and finally the retinal nerve fiber thins (Read more...)