Increasingly accurate phenotyping leads to better genetic evaluation. Genetic eye conditions may be due to a common cellar defect (eg, ciliopathies or RASopathies). Early-onset retinal dystrophies may be associated with renal disease. An understanding of genetic testing helps clinicians identify shortcomings in testing which may lead to a better understanding of the most appropriate test for a given ocular condition. Dedicated genetic counselors within ophthalmic and pediatric clinics are likely to improve the delivery of clinical care in these settings.
Key points
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Increasingly accurate phenotyping leads to better genetic evaluation.
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Genetic eye conditions may be due to a common cellar defect (eg, ciliopathies or RASopathies).
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Early-onset retinal dystrophies may be associated with renal disease.
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An understanding of genetic testing helps clinicians identify shortcomings in testing which may lead to a better understanding of the most appropriate test for a given ocular condition.
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Dedicated genetic counselors within ophthalmic and pediatric clinics are likely to improve the delivery of clinical care in these settings.
Introduction
Genetic eye disease is a vast topic. So many areas of interest exist and so many enormous developments have occurred that providing a comprehensive discussion in a short review such as this is impossible. Therefore, this article concentrates on some new concepts in ophthalmic genetics, and also provides some strategies that may help pediatricians cope with all of the new information in the world of genomics. This article also helps identify patients who might benefit from genetic evaluation and provides some idea of how to interpret those genetic results.
The pediatrician and ophthalmologist often work as a team to determine a diagnosis to account for all physical and developmental anomalies that might present in a child. Whenever concern exists about a child’s development, it is important for an ophthalmologist to conduct an evaluation to assess vision and possible related eye anomalies.
The newborn screening examination and the family ocular history provide critical information to pediatricians. Any anatomic anomaly seen by the pediatrician might indicate a genetic disease, which might impact not only the child’s vision but also the overall health of the child. For example, a lens opacity could represent galactosemia. Conversely, if a history exists of a genetic eye defect, the baby should have an immediate thorough evaluation. For example, a family might have a history of incontinentia pigmenti. This disease can variably affect the retinas of different people. A mother might have normal vision, but her child could inherit a form of the disease that will cause blindness if treatment is not obtained before the retinas detach. Therefore, the pediatrician can help prevent total loss of vision if a child with incontinentia pigmenti is referred immediately for retinal examination regardless of the parent’s vision.
Introduction
Genetic eye disease is a vast topic. So many areas of interest exist and so many enormous developments have occurred that providing a comprehensive discussion in a short review such as this is impossible. Therefore, this article concentrates on some new concepts in ophthalmic genetics, and also provides some strategies that may help pediatricians cope with all of the new information in the world of genomics. This article also helps identify patients who might benefit from genetic evaluation and provides some idea of how to interpret those genetic results.
The pediatrician and ophthalmologist often work as a team to determine a diagnosis to account for all physical and developmental anomalies that might present in a child. Whenever concern exists about a child’s development, it is important for an ophthalmologist to conduct an evaluation to assess vision and possible related eye anomalies.
The newborn screening examination and the family ocular history provide critical information to pediatricians. Any anatomic anomaly seen by the pediatrician might indicate a genetic disease, which might impact not only the child’s vision but also the overall health of the child. For example, a lens opacity could represent galactosemia. Conversely, if a history exists of a genetic eye defect, the baby should have an immediate thorough evaluation. For example, a family might have a history of incontinentia pigmenti. This disease can variably affect the retinas of different people. A mother might have normal vision, but her child could inherit a form of the disease that will cause blindness if treatment is not obtained before the retinas detach. Therefore, the pediatrician can help prevent total loss of vision if a child with incontinentia pigmenti is referred immediately for retinal examination regardless of the parent’s vision.
Selected clinically important ocular phenotype/genotype correlations
This section presents either recent information that is important to know or older information that is still so important that it needs to be revisited.
Lids
Lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome
This syndrome is caused by mutations in FOXC2 and has significant variability of expression. Distichiasis (the growth of extra eyelashes, ranging from a few extra eyelashes to a full extra set on both the upper and lower lids) is the most common clinical feature, followed by lymphedema, which typically has its onset at puberty and not at birth (Milroy disease). Therefore, any child with distichiasis should be genetically tested for this condition.
Cornea
Corneal lesion and trisomy 8 mosaicism
Corneal lesions present as a flat reticular-appearing white lesion usually extending from the limbus into the cornea; fine blood vessels are usually present and the lesion is not elevated ( Fig. 1 ). This lesion is most commonly seen in trisomy 8 mosaicism, and the affected child may seem normal, and therefore testing (see later discussion) should be considered.
Iris
Iris anomalies and ACTA2
Cysts from the iris pigment epithelium at the pupillary margin are also called iris flocculi ( Fig. 2 ). If a patient has parents or siblings with the same condition or has a family history of cardiac problems or vascular dissection, then ACTA2 analysis should be considered. Congenital mydriasis with persistent pupillary membranes has also been found to be associated with ACTA2 mutations.
Lens
The relationship between intracerebral hemorrhages, in utero or perinatally, with congenital cataracts or lens anomalies has been found to be associated with mutations in the COL4A1 gene. This gene encodes the α1 chain of type IV collagen, which is a critical component of almost all basement membranes, including those of the vasculature, renal glomeruli, and ocular structures.
Vitreous
Vitreous anomaly and stickler syndrome
Stickler syndrome is a collagenopathy caused by mutations in COL2A1 and COL11A1. Stickler syndrome consists of cleft palate, arthropathy, myopia, and retinal detachment. Ocular-only phenotype is seen in mutations in COL2A1. Some people argue that all patients with cleft palate should be screened for vitreous anomaly ( Fig. 3 ).
Retina
Leber congenital amaurosis
The number of gene mutations that are known to cause Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) increases as the knowledge base increases, but the LCA genes encode proteins with a wide variety of retinal functions, such as phototransduction (AIPL1, GUCY2D), rod/cone morphogenesis (CRB1, CRX), vitamin A cycle regulation (LRAT, RDH12, RPE65), guanine synthesis (IMPDH1), outer segment phagocytosis (MERTK), and intraphotoreceptor ciliary transport processes (ciliary genes: CEP290, LCA5, RPGRIP1, TULP1, discussed later).
Phenotype-genotype correlation by one Hanein and colleagues suggested that patients could be divided into 2 main groups, one with photophobia and the other with nyctalopia.
Photophobia
In the group complaining of photophobia, hypermetropia was always noted and involvement was seen of both rods and cones, resulting in early peripheral and macular degeneration of the retina with bone spicule pigments in the periphery; retinal atrophy including the macular region; thin attenuated vessels; and optic disc pallor. When the hypermetropia was higher than +7 diopters, the visual acuity was reduced to counting fingers (CF) or light perception (LP). In these cases, the disease was not progressive and pathognomonic of GUCY2D mutations when the hypermetropia was lower than +7; the visual acuity was frequently recordable and ranged from CF to 20/400. This findings, together with the presence of a keratoconus, suggested mutations in the AIPL1 or RPGRIP1 genes.
Nyctalopia
In the group with night blindness (nyctalopia), 2 clinical subtypes exist, one with hypermetropia and the second without hypermetropia. In the former, an early macular disruption is almost always visible on fundoscopy. Consequently, a central scotoma is noted at the visual field and the visual acuity ranges from 20/200 to 20/100 in the first decade of life. These clinical findings suggest mutations in either CRB1 or CRX. In the second subtype, an early peripheral pigmentary retinopathy is visible on fundoscopy. The visual field shows a progressive concentric reduction. The visual acuity is much better than in other groups of patients, especially during daytime, reaching values ranging from 20/200 to 20/100 or better during the first decade. This milder form of LCA strongly suggests mutations in the RPE65 or TULP1 genes.
Optic Nerve
Most inherited optic neuropathies are caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA (Leber hereditary optic neuropathy LHON) or mutations in the nuclear gene OPA1 causing autosomal dominant optic (ADOA) neuropathy (Kjer’s type) see Fig. 4 . OPA1 encodes mitochondrial proteins but is in nuclear DNA. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA causing LHON are maternally inherited, whereas mutations in OPA1 are autosomal dominantly inherited from the mother or father. Clinical expressivity is so variable in both conditions that they can be difficult to differentiate unless the inheritance pattern is elucidated with an accurate pedigree. Patients with LHON may benefit from avoidance of certain environmental exposures (smoking, alcohol consumption) that may cause deterioration of the disease. Furthermore, because both diseases (LHON and ADOA) are mitochondrial dysfunctions, an over-the-counter supplement, idebenone, which reduces “stress” on mitochondria, has been shown to have a protective effect in both diseases.
