De Morsier's Syndrome is one of the more treacherous conditions, which can befall a newborn, impairing their eyesight as one of many other problems. Septo-optic dysplasia, is another name for this condition and we will check out what its effects can be for the affected individual.
What is De Morsier's Syndrome?
This condition can appear at birth and can affect the pituitary, the optic nerve or the midline section of the brain. They end up underdeveloped or malfunctioning, which can cause delay in the development of the individual.
When it comes to the underdevelopment of the optic nerve, the impairment can be in either one or both eyes. The nerves carrying the information from the eyes to the brain are much weaker and smaller. There are a number of other conditions that can appear, which normally signal there is something wrong with the eye, such as Nystagmus.
When it comes to the pituitary gland and the midline of the brain, the individual may suffer from neurological problems, slower down mental and physical development. The pituitary gland is responsible for releasing hormones for many critical functions, so depending on the degree of how affected it is, it can cause issues, regarding growth.
The condition does not seem to favour one gender over the other, appearing approximately at the same rate in females as well as males.
There are multiple symptoms that can hit at the condition, among which are:
- Seizures caused by underdevelopment of the midline of the brain
- Poor vision as a result of the weaker optic nerve
- Growth is slower as a result of the malfunction of the pituitary gland
- Learning can be much tougher
- Slowed down mental development
- Nystagmus can also appear as a result
There are many other symptoms and conditions which can be caused due to De Morsier's Syndrome, but thankfully this condition is relatively rare, appearing in a very small number of children.
What causes De Morsier's Syndrome?
What causes this condition is not entirely known, as in many of the cases, one could not be found. It is however accepted that environmental factors, as well as genetics, can play a part in it to a degree.
There are a few genes which were confirmed to play a part in the condition, however the majority of factors still remain unknown. In general this condition does not follow a pattern of inheritance, however it has been observed in some families, where both of the parents carried a copy of a mutated gene.
There is no cure for this condition, however there are treatments, which can help against the different ailments caused by it. For example, when the issue is a malfunction of the pituitary gland, one of the treatments that can prove beneficial is the hormone treatment.
When it comes to an underdeveloped optic nerve, there are a number of visual aids which might be of help to an affected person. Digital magnifiers are one of the most convenient tools, which can be used to enhance the daily life of a person with a severe visual impairment.
There are multiple other complications that can arise, which need to be treated separately.
It is a condition that can have a severe impact on the life of an individual, so a lot of support and understanding is important to be shown to them.