LHON

When symptoms happen

What is the age when eyesight is affected?

Number of people first showing symptoms
red red red red red red red red red red red red red red red
Age of patient
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

LHON can affect the eyesight at any age from 1 to over 70 years. On average people first notice symptoms around the ages of 25 to 35.

LHON can affect the eyesight in different ways: In most people the eyesight deteriorates in the few months after symptoms first appear. Some cases have deteriorated slowly for up to two years. Some people lose their sight suddenly and rapidly.

Both eyes can be affected at the same time, but usually one eye shows symptoms first. The average time interval between the first and second eye being affected is about 2 months.

Once this initial eyesight loss is over, then people are usually left without central vision but have some peripheral vision "around the edges". This means that they can see relatively large objects but only by not looking directly at them.

Does the eyesight keep getting worse?

Number of people with worsening sight
red red red red red red red red red red red red red
Number of months
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

In most people, the eyesight damage caused by LHON takes a few months, but can sometimes happen slowly over a couple of years. In some cases people have lost their sight suddenly over a short period. Once this period is over, then the eyesight usually stays the same.



Will the eyesight ever get better?

Unfortunately, unless a treatment is found, the answer to this question for most people will be no. In most cases the eyesight gets worse for a couple of months, then stays the same for years. A very small number of LHON patients will recover some of their eyesight even without any treatment. The chance of recovery is different for each of the four main genetic defects as shown below.


Recovery rate for 11778: 4%


Recovery Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient


Recovery rate for 3460: 22%


Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient


Recovery rate for 14484: 37%


Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient


Recovery rate for 15257: 28%


Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Recovery Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient Patient

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This page last updated 28 December 1998 Copyright © Jim Leeder 1997