Leber's congenital amaurosis. Is mental retardation a frequent associated defect?

Thirty-one patients had Leber's congenital amaurosis. Only one was severely retarded, and three demonstrated hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis on computed tomographic scanning. These findings are in contrast to those of previous investigators, who have emphasized the high incidence of psychomotor retardation associated with Leber's amaurosis. Much of the psychomotor retardation that has been reported is probably secondary to the sensory deprivation and not necessarily a sign of structural CNS dysfunction. The diagnosis of Leber's congenital amaurosis does not, therefore, portend severe intellectual impairment and poor educability.