An Overview of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial disorder characterised by severe vision loss, often manifesting in young adulthood. It was first described by Theodore Leber in 1871, but the pattern of inheritance was not confirmed until 1988 by Wallace et al. It is one of the most common inherited optic neuropathies, with the hallmark being bilateral, painless central vision loss.