Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare type of inherited eye disorder that causes severe vision loss at birth. It is the most common cause of inherited blindness in childhood, and is found in two to three out of every 100,000 babies. LCA affects both the peripheral rod cells, which allow you to see at night, and the central cone cells, responsible for fine detail and color vision.

LCA is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that both parents must carry a defective gene for the condition in order to pass it on to their children. Each of their children has a 25 percent chance of inheriting the two LCA genes (one from each parent) needed to cause the disorder.

Our Approach to Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)

UCSF's ophthalmologists provide comprehensive evaluations and care for all types of eye conditions, from the most common to the rare and complex. They are experts in inherited eye diseases, such as LCA.

A relatively new type of treatment, called gene therapy, can improve vision in patients with one of the genetic mutations that causes LCA. Researchers are working to develop gene therapies to target other LCA-linked mutations.

All patients with LCA may benefit from low-vision aids, mobility training and other supportive care.