Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy

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Bietti’s crystalline dystrophy may also be referred to as Bietti’s crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy.

In 1937, an Italian ophthalmologist, Dr G.B. Bietti noted similar symptoms in three of his patients: crystals in the cornea (the clear covering of the eye); yellow, shiny deposits on the retina and progressive atrophy of the retina. These symptoms, now established as those of Bietti’s crystalline dystrophy tend to lead to progressive night blindness and visual field constriction. BCD is a rare disease and appears to be more common in people from Asian descent.

Researchers have found that people with BCD have crystals in some of their white blood cells but scientists have been unable to determine what makes up these deposits. They do not appear to harm the patient in any way except affect vision.

What causes BCD?

Family studies have revealed that Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy is inherited primarily through an affected person receiving one non-working gene from each parent. A person inheriting a non-working gene from one parent only will be a carrier but remain free of the disease. A person with BCD syndrome will pass on one gene to each child but, unless that person has children with another carrier, the children are not at risk for developing the disease.

Can BCD be treated?

There is no treatment for BCD at this time. Ongoing research suggests that scientists are hopeful that findings from gene research will be helpful in discovering treatments for patients with BCD.

Your ophthalmologist should be able to provide you with the latest research information for Bietti’s crystalline dystrophy.