Congenital Aniridia and Ocular motility

Munirah Alafaleq1, Lucie Sordello2, Dominique Bremond-Gignac3

  • 1From the Ophthalmology Department and Centre for Rare Ophthalmological Diseases OPHTARA, Necker Enfants-malades University Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris Cité (M.A., D.B.-G.), Paris, France; Ophthalmology Department, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Fahd hospital of the university, (M.A.), Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Insights

Strabismus is common in congenital aniridia, with both esotropia and exotropia frequently observed. Foveal hypoplasia, while prevalent, has minimal impact on strabismus type, but is associated with nystagmus.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Congenital aniridia is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the absence of the iris.
  • Strabismus is a common visual impairment in individuals with congenital aniridia, significantly impacting binocular vision.
  • Associated ocular conditions such as nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, and congenital cataracts are frequently observed in patients with aniridia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequency and types of strabismus in patients with congenital aniridia.
  • To determine the prevalence of associated nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, and congenital cataracts in this population.
  • To analyze the relationship between strabismus, aniridia subtypes, foveal hypoplasia, and cataract laterality.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, single-center cohort study was conducted.
  • Medical records of 379 congenital aniridia patients (aged 12 months to 30 years) were reviewed between 2006 and 2022.
  • Ophthalmologic and orthoptic assessments were performed, with strabismus analyzed in relation to aniridia type, foveal hypoplasia, and cataract laterality.

Main Results:

  • Strabismus was diagnosed in 150 patients, with 73 included in the final analysis.
  • Esotropia (49.3%) and exotropia (50.7%) were equally prevalent. Nystagmus was detected in 96% of patients.
  • Foveal hypoplasia was universal (100%), congenital cataracts were present in 53.4%, and PAX6 mutations in 77%.

Conclusions:

  • Strabismus is a significant clinical manifestation of congenital aniridia.
  • While foveal hypoplasia is highly prevalent and linked to nystagmus, its impact on strabismus type is minimal.
  • Cataract laterality may influence strabismus presentation, highlighting the complexity of visual development in aniridia.
Abstract

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