PXE & Vision Problems in Connecticut

Connecticut Ophthalmologist Leslie Doctor, M.D. commented on Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum or PXE and vision problems. “Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE) is the name given to a group of connective tissue disorders that affects the elastic tissue of the skin, blood vessels, and the eyes,” noted Dr. Leslie Doctor of Doctor & Associates with offices serving Fairfield County in Westport, Norwalk and Wilton CT. It is also known as Gronblad-Strandberg syndrome. Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum is a progressive disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of deposits of calcium and other minerals in elastic fibers, which are a component of connective tissue. Connective tissue provides strength and flexibility to structures throughout the body.

It affects about 1 in every 160,000 people. The prevalence of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum is unknown. For reasons that are unclear, this disorder is diagnosed twice as frequently in females as in males. As there is a risk of passing this condition on to the next generation, genetic counseling may be helpful. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. Most often, the parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but do not show signs and symptoms of the condition. Vascular lesions known as angioid streaks affect the retina of most patients with PXE. They usually appear between 20 and 40 years of age. Angioid streaks may lead to progressive visual failure and occasionally blindness. Bleeding and scarring of the retina may also occur, which can cause vision loss. Laser photocoagulation may be helpful in preventing further bleeding at the back of the eye.

If you have a family member with PXE or you are concerned about your eye health please do not hesitate to call Doctor & Associates for an eye exam appointment at 203-227-4113, visiting www.doctor-and-associates.com or www.facebook.com/doctorandassociates.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice providing eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical services. For those patients in need of eye surgery, as a founding member of the Wilton Surgery Center, Doctor & Associates eye surgeons are able to provide eye surgery in a convenient, close to home and cost effective ambulatory surgery center. Whatever your eye care, eye health or vision correction needs might be-Doctor & Associates can serve as a Connecticut ophthalmic consultant and will be conveniently located for patients from Fairfield County and southern Connecticut including Danbury, Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, Weston, Wilton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Cannondale, Aspetuck, Redding, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe, Darien, Glenbrook and Ridgefield Connecticut.