Sudden painless loss of central vision demands urgent expert attention

LHON

Loss of vision in one eye followed by second eye?
History of blindness in the family?
Only central vision affected?
Now is the time to act.

To learn more about LHON, click ‘About LHON’ above.

If you know anyone with any of the above symptoms,

ask them to seek medical advice.

Return to LHONaware home

  • DNA: This is the hereditary material located inside the cells in our body and contains the information needed for that cell, and our body, to develop and function. This information is passed from parents to their children through DNA.Footnote8

    Mitochondria: These are small structures (organelles) that exist inside our cells and generate the energy needed for that cell to function.Footnote8,Footnote9

    Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): DNA that is found in the mitochondria.Footnote8

    Mutations: The genes in our body act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. Changes in a gene are called mutations. These prevent one or more of the proteins to do their jobs causing disease.Footnote8

    Optic nerve: The nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.Footnote10

    Retinal ganglion cells: These are cells that connect the inner retina of the eye to the brain. Together, these cells form the optic nerve.Footnote10,Footnote11

    1. Theodorou-Kanakari A, et al. Adv Ther. 2018;35:1510–18.

    2. Carelli V, et al. J Neuro-Ophthalmol. 2017;37:371–81.

    3. Carelli V, et al. Eur Ophthalmic Rev. 2019;13(Suppl 2).

    4. Yu-Wai-Man P and Chinnery PF. Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. GeneReviews® [Internet]. 2021. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1174/. Accessed: March 2023.

    5. Yu-Wai-Man P, et al. Eye (Lond). 2022:36(4):818–26.

    6. Karaarslan C. Adv Ther. 2019:36;3299–307.

    7. Fraser JA, et al. Surv Ophthalmol. 2010;55:299–334. 

    8. Genetic Alliance. The New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services. Understanding Genetics: A New York, Mid-Atlantic Guide for Patients and Health Professionals. Washington (DC): Genetic Alliance; 2009. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK115558/. Accessed: March 2023. 

    9. Meyersen C, et al. Clin Ophthal. 2015;9:1165–76.

    10. Carelli V, et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009;1787(5):518–28.

    11. Wienbar S and Schwartz GW. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018:67;102–17.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is intended only to provide knowledge of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). This information should not be used in place of advice from a healthcare professional. Please contact your doctor for advice. This website has been produced by Chiesi Pharmaceuticals. The website has been developed in accordance with industry and legal standards to provide information for the general public about LHON. Chiesi Pharmaceuticals makes every reasonable effort to include accurate and current information. However, the information provided in this website is not exhaustive.