Treatments » Usher Syndrome
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Intensive research is currently under way to discover the cause, prevention, and treatment of the vision loss with Usher syndrome. While not a cure, a specified dose of vitamin A has been found to slow the progression of RP in some individuals with typical RP and Usher syndrome type II. Contact your doctor or The Foundation Fighting Blindness for more information. Research to precisely identify the specific genes involved in each Usher syndrome type is moving at a rapid pace. In the near future it should be possible to perform a test on genetic material from blood and other cells to determine if the specific gene defect causing Usher syndrome is present. When available, this testing will provide an accurate genetic diagnosis useful for early detection of the disorder, and for defining the risks of other family members or future offspring being affected. Currently there is no way to halt the degeneration of the retina or to restore normal hearing. The hearing loss cannot be corrected with middle ear surgery. Some patients with severe hearing impairment have benefited from cochlear implants. Others with residual hearing may benefit from the use of hearing aids. |
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