What is the retinal disease LHON?

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Sabel

“The optimization of residual vision is a holistic complement to ophthalmological care such as eye drops or surgeries. We continue where ophthalmology stops. We combine conventional medical science with new findings from modern brain research and traditional medicine methods.”

The disease is caused by genetic changes that lead to impaired function of the optic nerves, preventing visual information from being correctly transmitted to the brain. These vision problems can occur at any age and vary in severity. It should be noted that a genetic defect is not the sole reason for vision impairment. First, genes are not always constantly active; they can be switched on and off by the body (a concept known as epigenetics). Second, other factors, such as excessive mental stress or insufficient fluid intake (less than 2 liters of water daily), can exacerbate vision problems in addition to genetic mutations.

In typical cases, patients lose visual acuity within a few days or weeks, initially affecting one eye, with the second eye following later.

Less typical progressions develop more slowly, which may delay the recognition of visual impairment. Women are often affected by these slower cases.

Once both eyes are affected, patients cannot read without visual aids (glasses or contact lenses), are sensitive to light, and have limited contrast and color perception. A specific variant of LHON, known as LHON plus, includes symptoms resembling multiple sclerosis.

Depending on the type of LHON, the patient’s age, and gender, up to 90% of visual capacity can be lost, significantly affecting daily life and workability.

An ophthalmologist may not immediately recognize LHON, leading to delayed diagnosis. Those experiencing the above symptoms should consult an ophthalmologist, as similar symptoms are seen in many other treatable eye conditions.

If there are known cases of LHON in the family, this information can speed up diagnosis.

Ophthalmological examinations typically evaluate visual acuity, refractive power, the anterior eye segments (cornea, lens), and the retina. Since LHON is often associated with glaucoma, intraocular pressure is also measured. Additional diagnostic methods may be used as needed. If LHON is suspected, molecular genetic analysis should be performed to identify disease-causing genetic variants.

In conventional medicine, LHON is treated with the drug idebenone (available as Raxone®). Although studies show that early treatment can yield good results, it is not always effective. Regardless of the treatment’s success, the SAVIR therapy can help improve visual acuity.

In conventional medicine, damage to the optic nerve is considered irreversible. However, even when the optic nerve is damaged, patients’ vision can be improved with SAVIR therapy, as confirmed by a clinical study. Small microcurrent impulses activate inactive nerve cells in the retina, optic nerve, and brain. These inactive nerve cells can survive in a dormant state for a long time because they receive enough oxygen (energy) to survive but not enough to process visual signals. When these dormant nerve cells are reactivated by SAVIR therapy, optical stimuli can once again be processed more effectively. This alternating current treatment can significantly enhance vision, enabling patients to see better, even though the primary genetic damage to the nerve cells is not repaired. SAVIR therapy, therefore, addresses the secondary damage (dormant cells) rather than the primary genetic defect.

To date, no risks or side effects of SAVIR therapy have been observed in thousands of treated patients. The electrical impulses are so weak that they are barely noticeable on the skin. Patients may experience brief light flashes with their eyes closed during treatment, which is expected.

The electrical impulses are also significantly weaker than those of a pacemaker.