Mutations in the EYS gene account for approximately 5% of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa and cause a fairly homogeneous phenotype.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of mutations in the EYS gene in a cohort of patients affected by autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and to describe the associated phenotype.

DESIGN

Case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred forty-five patients affected by autosomal recessive RP.

METHODS

All coding exons of EYS were screened for mutations by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequence analysis. All 12 patients carrying mutations in EYS were re-examined, which included Goldmann kinetic perimetry, electroretinography, and high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

DNA sequence variants, best-corrected visual acuity, fundus appearance, visual field assessments using Goldmann kinetic perimetry, electroretinogram responses, and OCT images.

RESULTS

Nine novel truncating mutations and one previously described mutation in EYS were identified in 11 families. In addition, 18 missense changes of uncertain pathogenicity were found. Patients carrying mutations in EYS demonstrated classic RP with night blindness as the initial symptom, followed by gradual constriction of the visual field and a decline of visual acuity later in life. The onset of symptoms typically occurred between the second and fourth decade of life. The fundus displayed bone spicules increasing in density with age and generalized atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris with relative sparing of the posterior pole until later in the disease process, when atrophic macular changes occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Mutations in EYS account for approximately 5% of autosomal recessive RP patients in a cohort of patients consisting predominantly of patients of western European ancestry. The EYS-associated RP phenotype is typical and fairly homogeneous in most patients.