Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a disorder characterized by varying degrees of deafness and minor defects in structures arising from neural crest, including pigmentation anomalies of eyes, hair, and skin. WS is classified into four clinical and genetic phenotypes.
Reduced pigmentation of the fundus, typically generalised. Fundoscopy may reveal a low level pigment in both RPE and choroid with clear visibility of choroidal vessels (pale/albinoid) or low pigment level in the RPE with deep pigment in choroid so that visible choroidal vessels are separated by deeply pigmented zones (tesselated/tigroid).
Asymmetric severity of diabetic retinopathy in Waardenburg syndrome.
Kashima T, Akiyama H, Kishi S. Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;5:1717-20.
We speculate that hypopigmentation of the fundus in Waardenburg syndrome may be responsible for the reduction in retinal metabolism, which led to a reduction in oxygen consumption and prevented further aggravation of the diabetic retinopathy.
