A metabolic disease characterized by anosmia, cataract, early-onset retinitis pigmentosa and possible neurological manifestations, including peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar ataxia. Other features can be deafness, ichthyosis, skeletal abnormalities, and cardiac arrhythmia. It is characterized biochemically by accumulation of phytanic acid in plasma and tissues.

An inability to perceive odors. This is a general term describing inability to smell arising in any part of the process of smelling from absorption of odorants into the nasal mucous overlying the olfactory epithelium, diffusion to the cilia, binding to olfactory receptor sites, generation of action potentials in olfactory neurons, and perception of a smell.