CONDITION REFERENCE
Cone-rod dystrophy
Information from MedlinePlus Genetics about this condition and how it can be inherited.
About this condition
Cone-rod dystrophy is a group of related eye disorders that causes vision loss, which becomes more severe over time. These disorders affect the retina, which is the layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In people with cone-rod dystrophy, vision loss occurs as the light-sensing cells of the retina gradually deteriorate.
The first signs and symptoms of cone-rod dystrophy, which often occur in childhood, are usually decreased sharpness of vision (visual acuity) and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). These features are typically followed by impaired color vision (dyschromatopsia), blind spots (scotomas) in the center of the visual field, and partial side (peripheral) vision loss. Over time, affected individuals develop night blindness and a worsening of their peripheral vision, which can limit independent mobility. Decreasing visual acuity makes reading increasingly difficult and most affected individuals are legally blind by mid-adulthood. As the condition progresses, individuals may develop involuntary eye movements (nystagmus).
There are more than 30 types of cone-rod dystrophy, which are distinguished by their genetic cause and their pattern of inheritance: autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and X-linked. Additionally, cone-rod dystrophy can occur alone without any other signs and symptoms or it can occur as part of a syndrome that affects multiple parts of the body.
Inheritance
- Autosomal dominant
- X-linked recessive
- Autosomal recessive
A condition can have several forms with different inheritance patterns. Each pattern may apply to a different gene or form of the condition.
Related genes
MedlinePlus lists these genes for this condition. Open a gene page to read any available ClinGen reviews and ClinVar records.
YOUR DNA FILE
What can your DNA file tell you?
Your DNA file only includes the positions your test checked and reported. Consumer DNA kits usually test selected positions. Sequencing files can also leave out positions that were not reported or where the test could not give a result.
A variant missing from your file does not mean you tested negative for it. A ClinVar classification applies to a particular variant and the condition or finding it was reported for. It does not apply to everyone with that gene. An uncertain finding cannot establish a diagnosis.
BioDecode reads supported DNA files on your computer. It cannot fill gaps in your test, diagnose a condition or replace clinical testing.
Sources and dates
The source information on this page last changed on 2026-09-18.
MedlinePlus Source details
Source release: Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:17:13 GMT
Source publication: 2020-08-18
Source review: 2016-02
SHA-256: fdc8bd614310c12718379cef6569962e5d0e791cecabcc355b53a72816ac263a
About the library sources · Latest validated release · Record 6206727f5834