The ocular features of the mucopolysaccharidoses

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 553 - 563
• Main Authors: ASHWORTH, J. L, BISWAS, S, WRAITH, E, LLOYD, I. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.05.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates (enzymatic deficiencies). Glycogenosis; Child; Child, Preschool; Corneal Opacity - etiology; Errors of metabolism; Eye Diseases - etiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Miscellaneous; Mucopolysaccharidoses - complications; Mucopolysaccharidosis I - complications; Mucopolysaccharidosis VI - complications; Ocular Hypertension - etiology; Ophthalmology; Optic Atrophy - etiology; Papilledema - etiology; Retrospective Studies; Vision Disorders - etiology; Visual Acuity; Hunter; Ocular; mucopolysaccharidoses; Sanfilippo; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Metabolic diseases; Mucopolysaccharidosis; Enzymopathy; Genetic disease; Scheie; Eye; Hurler; Carbohydrate; Maroteaux-Lamy; Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.eye.6701921

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a heterogeneous group of rare disorders characterised by accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within multiple organ systems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of ocular complications in patients with MPS. Clinical ophthalmic features and electrodiagnostic results of 50 patients with a diagnosis of MPS were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 79% of MPS IH patients had a visual acuity of less than 6/12 equivalent in their better eye, compared to 44% of MPS IH/S and 25% of MPS VI patients. In total, 16% of MPS IH and 25% of MPS IH/S had severe corneal opacification, compared to 38% of MPS VI patients. 16% of MPS IH patients had optic atrophy; 21% of MPS VI patients had mild disc swelling, 29% had markedly swollen discs, and 14% had optic atrophy. One patient with MPS IH, one with MPS IH/S and six with MPS VI had ocular hypertension. One MPS VI patient had glaucoma that required topical therapy. Nine patients with MPS IH had electrodiagnostic evidence of retinopathy, as did one MPS VI patient. Ocular complications causing significant reduction in vision are common in MPS. The majority of MPS I and MPS VI patients have corneal opacification, which can lead to difficulties in diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma, optic disc changes, and retinopathy.