Stargardt's disease is best described as which of the following?

Stargardt's disease is best described as which of the following?

• A. Progressive glaucoma in youth
• B. Optic nerve atrophy due to viral infection
• C. Retinal detachment
• D. Juvenile macular degeneration

Answer: (D)

Stargardt's disease is an inherited macular dystrophy that presents in childhood or adolescence with progressive loss of central vision. It mainly affects the macula, causing a central scotoma and reduced acuity, often with characteristic yellowish flecks at the macula and lipofuscin buildup in the retinal pigment epithelium due to ABCA4 mutations. This description fits best as juvenile macular degeneration, distinguishing it from conditions that affect the optic nerve, peripheral retina, or cause acute retinal detachment.

Stargardt's disease is an inherited macular dystrophy that presents in childhood or adolescence with progressive loss of central vision. It mainly affects the macula, causing a central scotoma and reduced acuity, often with characteristic yellowish flecks at the macula and lipofuscin buildup in the retinal pigment epithelium due to ABCA4 mutations. This description fits best as juvenile macular degeneration, distinguishing it from conditions that affect the optic nerve, peripheral retina, or cause acute retinal detachment.