Central Macular Depigmentation

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 20 year old Caucasian male in good health. At an eye exam, an ophthalmologist examined my retinas and initially found everything to be normal. However, upon doing a dilated exam, the ophthalmologist discovered a bilateral depigmentated area on the central macula. He said it was indicative of a macular dystrophy but did not elaborate any further. What is the prognosis for these sorts of dystrophies? Do they all ultimately lead to blindness?

Dear Ryan: Macular Dystophy can ultimately result in loss of vision. Other complications include photophobia (excessive sensitivity to light) and recurrent corneal erosions.  If you have symptoms directly related to the dystrophy, you may be candidate for a surgical procedure such as a corneal transplant. Otherwise, you should have regular checkups to assess the progression of the disease.