The optic nerve head in congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles

Optic nerve head abnormalities have been reported in some patients with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM). This study prospectively assesses optic nerve head appearance in a consecutive CFEOM cohort.

All patients with CFEOM referred between 2006 and 2010 and who were mature enough to cooperate with fundus photography were included. Fundus photographs were reviewed with attention to optic nerve head features (eg, cupping >0.6, asymmetric cupping >0.3, optic nerve hypoplasia). Interested participants had CFEOM candidate gene analysis (KIF21A, TUBB3, PHOX2A) for genetic counseling purposes.

Ten CFEOM patients (five CFEOM1, five CFEOM3, age range 5-23 years) from eight families (all consanguineous but one) participated. All 10 patients had notable disc excavation (5) or optic nerve hypoplasia (5). CFEOM candidate gene analysis was performed in all patients and revealed a heterozygous p.R954W KIF21A mutation only in the patient who was not from a consanguineous family.

Our observations suggest the optic nerve head can be affected by the orbital dysinnervation that occurs in CFEOM. Because careful clinical optic nerve head assessment is difficult in young patients with CFEOM and associated large angle incomitant strabismus, optic nerve head abnormalities may be under-diagnosed. The absence of mutations in known CFEOM genes in our cohort of consanguineous families suggests further genetic heterogeneity of this group of conditions.