Living with Pigment dispersion syndrome
An eye condition in which pigment flakes off inside the eye and can raise eye pressure, which may harm the optic nerve.
Understanding Pigment dispersion syndrome
The pigment can slowly clog the eye's drainage canals and raise pressure inside the eye. High pressure can damage the optic nerve, which carries images to the brain. When that happens, the condition becomes pigmentary glaucoma, which GARD says occurs in about 30% of cases. Men and women are affected equally, but men develop glaucoma up to 3 times more often. Nearsightedness is an important risk factor.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. It describes these eye changes:
- Pigment flaking off the back of the iris
- Raised pressure inside the eye
- Possible damage to the optic nerve
- Nearsightedness (myopia) is common
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the condition may happen by chance or run in families in an autosomal dominant pattern, with a changed gene location identified on chromosome 7. Not everyone who carries the change develops the condition.
Also known as: glaucoma-related pigment dispersion syndrome; glaucoma, pigment-dispersion type; ocular pigment dispersion with or without glaucoma; opdg; pigment-dispersion type glaucoma
Patient organizations
Rare-disease groups that can help
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Pigment dispersion syndrome.
Explore research for Pigment dispersion syndrome
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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