SYMPTOMS
Signs of the disease typically appear in a person’s twenties or thirties, and they normally occur in a particular sequence. The development is typically gradual, although it differs from person to person. The following are its usual signs:
- lattice corneal dystrophy
- drooping skin (cutis laxa)
- nervous system problems (neuropathy)
Typically, eye problems are the first to appear. Amyloid deposits obscure the cornea, causing visual impairment. Moreover, dryness, inflammation, and photophobia are signs of eye problems. Individuals who are affected may ultimately acquire cataracts and glaucoma.
Furthermore, nerves get affected as the disease develops (usually in an individual’s 40s). Dysfunction of the nerves in the head and face (cranial nerves) results in facial muscle paralysis and reduced feeling, which may cause difficulties in speaking, eating, and sucking.
Ectropium (turning out of the eyelid), corneal ulcers, and droopy eyelids are further ocular symptoms linked with facial paralysis (ptosis). Individuals who are affected may also develop peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, central nervous system signs—such as decreased cognitive function—are uncommon but have been recorded in the elderly.