National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Stargardt disease


Other Names:
Stargardt macular dystrophy; Juvenile onset macular degeneration
Categories:
Stargardt disease is a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss. It affects the macula, an area of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Vision loss is due to abnormal accumulation of a fatty yellow pigment (lipofuscin) in the cells within the macula. People with Stargardt disease also have problems with night vision, and some have problems with color vision. The signs and symptoms of Stargardt disease typically appear in late childhood to early adulthood and worsen over time.[1] It is most commonly caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene and inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Rarely it may be caused by mutations in other genes and inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.[1][2] There is currently no treatment, but various services and devices can help affected people carry out daily activities and maintain their independence.[3]
Last updated: 3/7/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
100% of people have these symptoms
Reduced visual acuity
Decreased clarity of vision
0007663
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal choroid morphology 0000610
Abnormal foveal morphology 0000493
Abnormality of macular pigmentation 0008002
Abnormality of visual evoked potentials 0000649
Central scotoma
Central blind spot
0000603
Color vision defect
Abnormal color vision
Abnormality of color vision
[ more ] 		0000551
Macular degeneration 0000608
Nyctalopia
Night blindness
Night-blindness
Poor night vision
[ more ] 		0000662
Paroxysmal involuntary eye movements 0007704
Retinal pigment epithelial atrophy 0007722
Retinal pigment epithelial mottling 0007814
Retinal thinning 0030329
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the macula 0008059
Yellow/white lesions of the macula 0030500
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Bull's eye maculopathy 0011504
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Retinitis pigmentosa inversa 0008035
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Stargardt disease is most commonly inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.[1][2] This means that to be affected, a person must have a mutation in both copies of the responsible gene in each cell. Affected people inherit one mutated copy of the gene from each parent, who is referred to as a carrier. Carriers of an autosomal recessive condition typically do not have any signs or symptoms (they are unaffected). When 2 carriers of an autosomal recessive condition have children, each child has a:
  • 25% (1 in 4) chance to be affected
  • 50% (1 in 2) chance to be an unaffected carrier like each parent
  • 25% chance to be unaffected and not be a carrier
A person with autosomal recessive Stargardt disease will always pass one mutated copy of the gene to each of his/her children. In other words, each of his/her children will at least be a carrier.  A child of an affected person can be affected if the other parent is also affected or is a carrier.

In rare cases, Stargardt disease may be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.[4] This means that having a mutation in only one copy of the responsible gene in each cell is enough to cause features of the condition. An affected person typically inherits the mutated gene from an affected parent.

When a person with a mutation that causes an autosomal dominant condition has children, each child has a 50% (1 in 2) chance to inherit that mutation.
Last updated: 3/8/2016
Yes. Genetic testing may help distinguish the type of Stargardt disease a person has, and provide information about the mode of inheritance and risks to other family members. The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests available for Stargardt disease. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about genetic testing for this condition should speak with their ophthalmologist or a genetics professional.
Last updated: 3/8/2016

Testing Resources

At present there is no cure for Stargardt disease, and there is very little that can be done to slow its progression. Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from UVa, UVb and bright light may be of some benefit. Animal studies have shown that taking excessive amounts of vitamin A and beta carotene could promote the additional accumulation of lipofuscin, as well as a toxic vitamin A derivative called A2E; it is typically recommended that these be avoided by individuals with Stargardt disease. There are possible treatments for Stargardt disease that are being tested, including a gene therapy treatment, which has been given orphan drug status by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA, similar to the FDA).[5] You can read more about this treatment by clicking here. There are also clinical trials involving embryonic stem cell treatments.[5]
Last updated: 6/4/2014

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnosis includes multifocal pattern dystrophy simulating STGD1 and retinal and/ or macular dystrophies such as central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD), achromatopsia, cone dystrophy (CD) and cone rod dystrophy (CRD). In addition, two autosomal dominant types of macular dystrophy exist that resemble STGD1: STGD3 caused by mutations in the ELOVL4 gene and STGD4 associated with mutations in PROM1.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Stargardt disease. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.
  • The Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT) provides access to reports, data, and analyses of research activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including information on NIH expenditures and the results of NIH-supported research. Although these projects may not conduct studies on humans, you may want to contact the investigators to learn more. To search for studies, enter the disease name in the "Text Search" box. Then click "Submit Query".

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Stargardt disease. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Stargardt disease:
    My Retina Tracker®
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Foundation Fighting Blindness provides information about Stargardt disease and other retinal diseases.
  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Stargardt disease. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established by Congress in 1968 to protect and prolong the vision of the American people. Click on the link to view information on this topic. 

In-Depth Information

  • The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy provides information on the treatment of genetic eye diseases.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Stargardt disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My husband has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. I have a baby and my concern is about him. Should I get his eyesight checked from now on? See answer

  • Are there any dietary supplements or natural substances that may slow the progression of vision loss? See answer


  1. Stargardt macular degeneration. Genetics Home Reference. November 2010; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/stargardt-macular-degeneration.
  2. Jane Kelly. STARGARDT DISEASE 1; STGD1. OMIM. June 8, 2015; http://www.omim.org/entry/248200.
  3. Facts About Stargardt Disease. NEI. April, 2015; https://nei.nih.gov/health/stargardt/star_facts.
  4. Jane Kelly. STARGARDT DISEASE 3; STGD3. OMIM. September 11, 2006; http://www.omim.org/entry/600110.
  5. Stargardt Disease. American Macular Degeneration Foundation. 2014; https://www.macular.org/stargardt-disease. Accessed 6/4/2014.