Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the most common inherited cause of blindness in childhood and is characterised by a severe retinal dystrophy before the age of one year. Six genes have been identified that together account for approximately half of all LCA patients. These genes are expressed preferentially in the retina or the retinal pigment epithelium. Their putative functions are quite di...

The fundus abnormalities of Leber's congenital amaurosis are extremely variable, from normal to salt-and-pepper changes to typical retinitis pigmentosa. A less commonly seen appearance is that of multiple, irregular shaped, yellowish white flecks deep in the midperipheral retina in a periarteriolar distribution. The nasal fundus as well as the posterior pole are spared. Such a case is presented...

Since it was first described by Theodor Leber as 'pigmentary retinitis with congenital amaurosis' (Leber, I867), the entity which bears his name has been the subject of sporadic reports defining its clinical and pathological characteristics. It accounted for about io per cent of the blindness in Sweden (Alstrom and Olsen, 1957) and i8 per cent among children in a series in Holland (SchappertKim...