Stargardt disease is a rare inherited condition affecting one in 8,000 to 10,000 people. In Stargardt’s the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macular region of the eye degenerate. The macular is the area at the back of the eye which is responsible for the fine detailed vision necessary for activities such as watching TV and reading.
Symptoms of the condition typically develop before the age of 20 and include:
Whilst people with Stargardt’s do not lose their peripheral (side) vision, many people will reach the point of severe vision loss.
The most common cause of the condition is genetic. There are three genes which have been associated with Stargardt’s: ELOVL4, PROM1 and ABCA4.
You can self-fund or use private medical insurance to fund your treatment.