Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD): Symptoms & Signs

Inherited retinal disease (IRD) refers to a group of diseases that can cause vision loss or blindness. There are many different types of IRD. The conditions vary in severity according to the specific mutation that is present. The IRDs also vary in inheritance patterns depending upon the specific type of condition. Examples of IRDs include retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, choroideremia, and cone-rod dystrophy.

Signs and symptoms of inherited retinal diseases vary according to the specific disease. In general, signs and symptoms may include

• blurred vision,
• photophobia,
• blind spots in the center of the visual field,
• inability to see color,
• loss of peripheral vision,
• loss of visual acuity,
• loss of contrast sensitivity,
• tunnel vision, or
• in severe cases, blindness.

Causes of inherited retinal diseases (IRD)

They are caused by genetic mutations in one of over 260 genes known to cause these conditions.

Other inherited retinal disease (ird) symptoms and signs

• Blind Spots in the Center of the Visual Field
• Blindness
• Blurred Vision
• Inability to See Color
• Loss of Contrast Sensitivity
• Loss of Peripheral Vision
• Loss of Visual Acuity
• Photophobia
• Tunnel Vision