title: Visual acuity loss in patients with Stargardt's macular dystrophy.
abstract: Ninety-five patients with Stargardt's macular dystrophy were appraised for visual loss with age by both life-table analyses and cross-sectional procedures. The probability of maintaining a visual acuity of 20/40 or better in at least one eye was 52% by age 19, 32% by age 29, and 22% by age 39. In the population studied, once a patient's visual acuity dropped below 20/40, it tended to decrease rapidly and stabilize at 20/200. Fluorescein angiograms obtained on 64 of the 95 patients showed a "dark choroid" in 55 (85.9%). This finding, therefore was present in the majority of the patients, although its absence does not rule out Stargardt's macular dystrophy.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago 60612.
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Fishman
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Farber
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Patel
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Derlacki
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity