How are people with MPS and related diseases affected?
People with MPS disease can experience complications with their eyes. Specific features for each MPS disease are below, or use the side bar to navigate to each disease.
Eyes
MPS I Hurler, Hurler-Scheie and Scheie
People with MPS I experience clouding of the cornea which is caused by stored mucopolysaccharides and can lead to significant visual disability. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes bending of the light which affects the vision, tinted glasses may be helpful in such circumstances. Severe corneal clouding may reduce sight, especially in dim light, a loss of night vision is common, cornea transplants can be a treatment option. Glaucoma, which is abnormally high pressure in the eye, may occur and cause damage to the retina, it is advisable to have regular assessment for possible glaucoma.Often children with Hurler disease do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial.
MPS II Hunter
People with MPS II experience clouding of the cornea which is caused by stored mucopolysaccharides and can lead to significant visual disability. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes bending of the light which affects the vision, tinted glasses may be helpful in such circumstances. Severe corneal clouding may reduce sight, especially in dim light, a loss of night vision is common, cornea transplants can be a treatment option. Glaucoma, which is abnormally high pressure in the eye, may occur and cause damage to the retina, it is advisable to have regular assessment for possible glaucoma. Often children with MPS II do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial.
MPS III Sanfilippo
Corneal clouding does not occur in the eyes as it does in other MPS diseases. Often children with MPS III do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial.
MPS IV Morquio
People with MPS IV can experience clouding of the cornea which is caused by stored mucopolysaccharides and can lead to significant visual disability. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes bending of the light which affects the vision, tinted glasses may be helpful in such circumstances. Severe corneal clouding may reduce sight, especially in dim light, a loss of night vision is common, cornea transplants can be a treatment option. Often children with MPS IV do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial.
MPS VI Maroteaux-Lamy
People with MPS VI experience clouding of the cornea which is caused by stored mucopolysaccharides and can lead to significant visual disability. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes bending of the light which affects the vision, tinted glasses may be helpful in such circumstances. Severe corneal clouding may reduce sight, especially in dim light, a loss of night vision is common, cornea transplants can be a treatment option. Occasionally vision deteriorates due to damage to the retina or the optic nerve. Often children with MPS VI do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial.
MPS VII Sly
People with MPS VII experience clouding of the cornea which is caused by stored mucopolysaccharides and can lead to significant visual disability. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes bending of the light which affects the vision, tinted glasses may be helpful in such circumstances. Some people cannot tolerate bright lights as the clouding causes uneven refraction of light. A loss of night vision is common which may also be due to damage of the retina. Severe corneal clouding may reduce sight, especially in dim light, a loss of night vision is common, cornea transplants can be a treatment option. Glaucoma, which is abnormally high pressure in the eye, may occur and cause damage to the retina, it is advisable to have regular assessment for possible glaucoma. Often children with MPS VII do not want to sleep in the dark or are afraid when waking up at night, using a night light may prove beneficial