Retinopathy is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist during eye examination. Stereoscopic fundus photography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of retinopathy. Dilated fundoscopy, or direct visualization of the fundus, has been shown to be effective as well.

A thorough history is essential and should cover family history, diet; drug/toxin exposure social history, including tobacco and alcohol use; and occupational background, with details on whether similar cases exist among coworkers. Treatment of any chronic disease such as pernicious anemia should always be elucidated.

In most cases of nutritional/toxic optic neuropathy, the diagnosis may be obtained via detailed medical history and eye examination. Additionally, supplementary neurological imaging studies, such as MRI or enhanced CT, may be performed if the cause remains unclear.

When the details of the examination and history indicate a familial history of similar ocular or systemic disease, whether or not there is evidence of toxic or nutritional causes for disease, certain genetic tests may be required. Because there are several congenital causes of mitochondrial dysfunction, the patients history, examination, and radiological studies must be examined in order to determine the specific genetic tests required. For example, 90% of cases of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) are associated with three common mtDNA point mutations (m.3460G>A/MT-ND1, m.11778G>A/MT-ND4, m.14484T>C/MT-ND6) while a wider range of mtDNA mutations (MT-ND1, MT-ND5, MT-ND6; http://www.mitomap.org/) have been associated with overlapping phenotypes of LHON, MELAS, and Leigh syndrome.

In the UK, screening for diabetic retinopathy is part of the standard of care for people with diabetes. After one normal screening in people with diabetes, further screening is recommended every two years. Teleophthalmology has been employed in these programs.

Progressive vision loss in any dog in the absence of canine glaucoma or cataracts can be an indication of PRA. It usually starts with decreased vision at night, or nyctalopia. Other symptoms include dilated pupils and decreased pupillary light reflex. Fundoscopy to examine the retina will show shrinking of the blood vessels, decreased pigmentation of the nontapetal fundus, increased reflection from the tapetum due to thinning of the retina, and later in the disease a darkened, atrophied optic disc. Secondary cataract formation in the posterior portion of the lens can occur late in the disease. In these cases diagnosis of PRA may require electroretinography (ERG). For many breeds there are specific genetic tests of blood or buccal mucosa for PRA.

Absent a genetic test, animals of breeds susceptible to PRA can be cleared of the disease only by the passage of time—that is, by living past the age at which PRA symptoms are typically apparent in their breed. Breeds in which the PRA gene is recessive may still be carriers of the gene and pass it on to their offspring, however, even if they lack symptoms, and it is also possible for onset of the disease to be later than expected, making this an imperfect test at best.

Treatment is based

on the stage of the disease. Stage 1 does not

require treatment and

should be observed. 4

Neovascularization

(stage 2) responds well

to laser ablation or

cryotherapy.2,4 Eyes

with retinal detachments (stages

3 through 5) require surgery, with

earlier stages requiring scleral

buckles and later stages ultimately

needing vitrectomy. 2,4

More recently, the efficacy of

anti-VEGF intravitreal injections

has been studied. In one study,

these injections, as an in adjunct

with laser, helped early stages

achieve stabilization, but further

investigation is needed.6

Diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed entirely by recognizing abnormalities on retinal images taken by fundoscopy. Color fundus photography is mainly used for staging the disease. Fluorescein angiography is used to assess the extent of retinopathy that aids in treatment plan development. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used to determine the severity of edema and treatment response.

Because fundoscopic images are the main sources for diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, manually analyzing those images can be time-consuming and unreliable, as the ability of detecting abnormalities varies by years of experience. Therefore, scientists have explored developing computer-aided diagnosis approaches to automate the process, which involves extracting information about the blood vessels and any abnormal patterns from the rest of the fundoscopic image and analyzing them.

FEVR is, as its name suggests,

familial and can be inherited in an

autosomal dominant, autosomal

recessive or X-linked recessive pattern.1-3 It is caused by mutations in

FZD4, LRP5, TSPAN12 and NDP

genes, which impact the wingless/

integrated (Wnt) receptor signaling

pathway. 3 Disruption of this path

way leads to abnormalities of vascu-

lar growth in the peripheral retina. 2,3

It is typically bilateral, but asymmetric, with varying degrees of

progression over the individual’s

lifetime. Age of onset varies, and

visual outcome can be strongly

influenced by this factor. Patients

with onset before age three have a

more guarded long-term prognosis

whereas those with later onset are

more likely to have asymmetric

presentation with deterioration of

vision in one eye only. 2-3 However,

because FEVR is a lifelong disease,

these patients are at risk even as

adults.2 Ocular findings and useful

vision typically remain stable if the

patient does not have deterioration

before age 20.2,4 Due to the variability and unpredictability of the

disease course, patients with FEVR

should be followed throughout

their lifetime.

Clinical presentation can vary

greatly. In mild variations, patients

may experience peripheral vascular

changes, such as peripheral avascular zone, vitreoretinal adhesions,

arteriovenous anastomoses and a

V-shaped area of retinochoroidal

degeneration. 4 Severe forms may

present with neovascularization,

subretinal and intraretinal hemorrhages and exudation. 4 Neovascularization is a poor prognostic

indicator and can lead to retinal

folds, macular ectopia and tractional retinal detachment. 2,4 Widefield FA has been crucial in

helping to understand this disease,

as well as helping to confirm the

diagnosis. An abrupt cessation

of the retinal capillary network

in a scalloped edge posterior to

fibrovascular proliferations can

be made using FA.2,3,5 Patients can

also show delayed transit filling on

FA as well as delayed/patchy choroidal filling, bulbous vascular terminals, capillary dropout, venous/venous shunting and abnormal

branching patterns. 2,3,5 The staging of FEVR is similar

to that of retinopathy of prematurity. The first two stages involve an

avascular retinal periphery with or

without extraretinal vascularization (stage 1 and 2, respectively). 4 Stages three through five delineate

levels of retinal detachment; stage 3

is subtotal without foveal involvement, stage 4 is subtotal with foveal

involvement and stage 5 is a total

detachment, open or closed funnel.4

Because there was neovascularization in the absence of retinal detachment, our patient was

considered to have

stage 2.

Where trauma is involved, only a funduscopic examination of the back of the eye (retina) is necessary to make the diagnosis. Fluoroscein angiography may show a decrease in blood flow to the areas of whiteness in the retina.

Diagnosis of AIR can be difficult due to the overlap of symptoms with other disorders. Examination of the fundus (inner surface of eye) can show no results or it can show narrowing of the blood vessels, abnormal colouration of the optic disc, and retinal atrophy. Fundus examination results are not indicative of autoimmune retinopathy but they are used to initiate the diagnostic process. An electroretinogram (eye test used to see abnormalities in the retina) is used to detect AIR. An abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) with respect to light and dark adaptations indicates AIR. The ERG also allows differentiation between cancer-associated retinopathy and melanoma-associated retinopathy. If the ERG shows cone responses, CAR can be prematurely diagnosed. If the ERG shows a significant decrease in b-wave amplitude, MAR can be prematurely diagnosed. To confirm, analysis for anti-retinal antibodies through Western blotting of serum collected from the patient is done.

It is important to differentiate CPEO from other pathologies that may cause an ophthalmoplegia. There are specific therapies used for these pathologies.

CPEO is diagnosed via muscle biopsy. On examination of muscle fibers stained with Gömöri trichrome stain, one can see an accumulation of enlarged mitochondria. This produces a dark red staining of the muscle fibers given the name “ragged red fibers”. While ragged red fibers are seen in normal aging, amounts in excess of normal aging give a diagnosis of a mitochondrial myopathy.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), from a sample of blood or muscle tissue can determine a mutation of the mtDNA.

Elevated acetylcholine receptor antibody level which is typically seen in myasthenia gravis has been seen in certain patients of mitochondrial associated ophthalmoplegia.

It is important to have a dilated eye exam to determine if there is pigmentary retinopathy that may signify Kearns-Sayre syndrome which is associated with cardiac abnormalities.

MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis, in one study volumes of medial rectus, lateral rectus, and inferior rectus muscles in CPEO were not smaller than normal (in contrast to the profound atrophy typical of neurogenic paralysis). Although volumes of the superior rectus muscle-levator complex and superior oblique were significantly reduced.

Telemedicine programs are available that allow primary care clinics to take images using specially designed retinal imaging equipment which can then be shared electronically with specialists at other locations for review. In 2009, Community Health Center, Inc. implemented a telemedicine retinal screening program for low-income patients with diabetes as part of those patients annual visits at the Federally Qualified Health Center.

Generally speaking, people diagnosed with photic retinopathy recover visual acuity completely within two months, though more severe cases may take longer, or not see complete recovery at all.

Those diseases understood as congenital in origin could either be specific to the ocular organ system (LHON, DOA) or syndromic (MELAS, Multiple Sclerosis). It is estimated that these inherited optic neuropathies in the aggregate affect 1 in 10,000

Of the acquired category, disease falls into further etiological distinction as arising from toxic (drugs or chemicals) or nutritional/metabolic (vitamin deficiency/diabetes) insult. It is worth mentioning that under-nutrition and toxic insult can occur simultaneously, so a third category may be understood as having a combined or mixed etiology. We will refer to this as Toxic/Nutritional Optic Neuropathy, whereby nutritional deficiencies and toxic/metabolic insults are the simultaneous culprits of visual loss associated with damage and disruption of the RGC and optic nerve mitochondria.

Diffuse, symmetric white matter abnormalities were demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggesting that Behr syndrome may represent a disorder of white matter associated with an unknown biochemical abnormality.

Diagnosis is suspected clinically and family history, neuroimaging and genetic study helps to confirm Behr Syndrome.

A neuro-ophthalmologist is usually involved in the diagnosis and management of KSS. An individual should be suspected of having KSS based upon clinical exam findings. Suspicion for myopathies should be increased in patients whose ophthalmoplegia does not match a particular set of cranial nerve palsies (oculomotor nerve palsy, fourth nerve palsy, sixth nerve palsy). Initially, imaging studies are often performed to rule out more common pathologies. Diagnosis may be confirmed with muscle biopsy, and may be supplemented with PCR determination of mtDNA mutations.

It is not necessary to biopsy an ocular muscle to demonstrate histopathologic abnormalities. Cross-section of muscle fibers stained with Gömöri trichrome stain is viewed using light microscopy. In muscle fibers containing high ratios of the mutated mitochondria, there is a higher concentration of mitochondria. This gives these fibers a darker red color, causing the overall appearance of the biopsy to be described as "ragged red fibers. Abnormalities may also be demonstrated in muscle biopsy samples using other histochemical studies such as mitochondrial enzyme stains, by electron microscopy, biochemical analyses of the muscle tissue (ie electron transport chain enzyme activities), and by analysis of muscle mitochondrial DNA. "

It may be treated with triamcinolone in some cases. However, in general, there are no treatments for Purtscher's retinopathy. If it is caused by a systemic disease or emboli, then those conditions should be treated.

Photic retinopathy generally goes away on its own over time, but there is no specific treatment known to be reliable for speeding recovery. One path sometimes attempted, which has unclear results, is to treat the initial macular edema with corticosteroids.

There is another retinal disease in Briards known as hereditary retinal dysplasia. These dogs are night blind from birth, and day vision varies. Puppies affected often have nystagmus. It is also known as lipid retinopathy.

Immunoglobulin samples are obtained from a large pool of healthy, matched donors (10000 - 20000). The immunoglobulin mixture is then administered through IV at a rate of 0.4g/kg/day for 5 days. Antibodies in the IVIG mixture interact with binding sites of the disease-associated antibodies (such as anti-recoverin antibodies). This prevents binding to proteins targeted as antigenic and reduces disease activity. Responses to this treatment can vary and are impacted if the patient is diagnosed with any type of cancer. Patients who respond positively show improvement in the clarity of their vision and their visual field.

There is currently no defined treatment to ameliorate the muscle weakness of CPEO. Treatments used to treat other pathologies causing ophthalmoplegia has not been shown to be effective.

Experimental treatment with tetracycline has been used to improve ocular motility in one patient. Coenzyme Q has also been used to treat this condition. However, most neuro-ophthalmologists do not ascribe to any treatment.

Ptosis associated with CPEO may be corrected with surgery to raise the lids, however due to weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscles, care must be taken not to raise the lids in excess causing an inability to close the lids. This results in an exposure keratopathy. Therefore, rarely should lid surgery be performed and only by a neuro-ophthalmologist familiar with the disease.

The most common strabismus finding is large angle exotropia which can be treated by maximal bilateral eye surgery, but due to the progressive nature of the disease, strabismus may recur. Those that have diplopia as a result of asymmetric ophthalmoplegia may be corrected with prisms or with surgery to create a better alignment of the eyes.

Brain MRI shows vermis atrophy or hypoplasic. Cerebral and cerebellar atrophy with white matter changes in some cases.

Retinal degeneration is the deterioration of the retina caused by the progressive and eventual death of the cells of the retina. There are several reasons for retinal degeneration, including artery or vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, R.L.F./R.O.P. (retrolental fibroplasia/ retinopathy of prematurity), or disease (usually hereditary). These may present in many different ways such as impaired vision, night blindness, retinal detachment, light sensitivity, tunnel vision, and loss of peripheral vision to total loss of vision. Of the retinal degenerative diseases retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a very important example.

Inherited retinal degenerative disorders in humans exhibit genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in their underlying causes and clinical outcomes*. These retinopathies affect approximately one in 2000 individuals worldwide. A wide variety of causes have been attributed to retinal degeneration, such as disruption of genes that are involved in phototransduction, biosynthesis and folding of the rhodopsin molecule, and the structural support of the retina. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene account for 25% to 30% (30% to 40% according to) of all cases of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) in North America. There are many mechanisms of retinal degeneration attributed to rhodopsin mutations or mutations that involve or affect the function of rhodopsin. One mechanism of retinal degeneration is rhodopsin overexpression. Another mechanism, whereby a mutation caused a truncated rhodopsin, was found to affect rod function and increased the rate of photoreceptor degeneration.

- *For example, a single peripherin/RDS splice site mutation was identified as the cause of retinopathy in eight families; the phenotype in these families ranged from retinitis pigmentosa to macular degeneration.

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is an inflammatory retinopathy in the category of white dot syndromes typified by acute loss of one or more zones of outer retinal function associated with photopsia, minimal funduscopic changes and abnormal electroretinography findings.