Is second eye involvement in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy due to retro-chiasmal spread of apoptosis? Commentary

Abstract

Background: To describe firstly three cases of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), one of which was preceded by contralateral branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and the other two by contralateral retinal detachment plus one case of central retinal vein occlusion with full recovery and no LHON three years later in a 11778 mutation carrier. To describe secondly the comparison of visual field defects in R and L eyes in early LHON of one case. A novel mechanism is proposed to explain the almost inevitable progression of LHON to involve both eyes. Methods: Clinical features of three Australian cases of LHON are reviewed. Results: In all three LHON cases retinal pathology (detachment or ..