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How does Leber hereditary optic neuropathy affect vision?
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atrophy
One example of atrophy is the progressive loss of bone that occurs in osteoporosis (normal bone shown on left; osteoporotic bone shown on right).
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a hereditary condition that causes optic atrophy, which is the degeneration of the optic nerve. This nerve is responsible for transmitting visual data from the retina to the brain.1
In the context of pathology, this condition leads to a loss of vision. While some individuals may experience a recovery of vision, it is rarely complete. The disorder predominantly affects males between the ages of 15 and 25. As a form of mitochondrial disease, the underlying pathology involves a functional failure of the mitochondrion, which impairs the energy-generating processes necessary for cellular health.12