However, the disease can seem to re-present a second time with further vision loss due to the early onset of presbyopia symptoms (i.e., difficulty in viewing objects up close).

A Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) can detect where areas of impaired vision have occurred, which usually shows up as central, centrocaecal, or paracentral scotomas for DOA patients.

Because the onset of Dominant optic atrophy is insidious, symptoms are often not noticed by the patients in its early stages and are picked up by chance in routine school eye screenings.

While symptoms typically begin to present in childhood, adult patients (around the age of 35) commonly complain of new onset loss of vision at near.

The emergence of premature presbyopia occurs from DOA patients being accustomed to holding objects closer to their faces to read.

Generally, the severity of the condition by adolescence reflects the overall level of visual function to be expected throughout most of the patient’s adult life (Votruba, 1998).

[10] Mitochondria are subcellular structures that generate and transform energy from metabolism into discrete usable units (ATP) for the cell’s functions (See oxidative phosphorylation, electron transport chain).

Retinal ganglion cells (neurons) make up the optic nerve and have a long unmyelinated portion, hence the high energy demand and sensitivity to mitochondrial dysfunction.

This is especially the case for smaller axons such as those found in the papillomacular bundle of the retina, which transmit information corresponding to the central visual field.

Some studies have found usage of idebenone to be associated with mild improvement in visual acuity for DOA patients with OPA1 mutation.

They have the following goals: scientific research, disease awareness, interaction between all parties involved and a trustworthy place for the patients.