Which condition is juvenile macular degeneration?

• A. Glaucoma
• B. Stargardt's disease
• C. Usher Syndrome
• D. CHARGE syndrome

Answer: (B)

Stargardt disease is the juvenile macular degeneration. It is the most common inherited form of macular degeneration that starts in youth, usually due to autosomal recessive mutations in the ABCA4 gene. This genetic change leads to the buildup of toxic byproducts in the retinal pigment epithelium, which damages the central retina (the macula) and causes a progressive loss of central vision in adolescence or early adulthood. Clinically, people notice difficulty with reading and recognizing faces while their peripheral vision remains relatively intact early on. On examination, you may see yellowish flecks around the macula and, on special imaging, a characteristic dark choroid due to the lipofuscin buildup.

The other conditions listed are not juvenile macular degeneration: glaucoma involves optic nerve damage and typically affects peripheral vision; Usher syndrome includes hearing loss with retinitis pigmentosa; CHARGE syndrome is a broader congenital condition with multiple organ system involvement.