Morning glory syndrome

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a birth (congenital) defect of the nerve of the eye (optic nerve) that resembles a flower known as "morning glory". It is characterized by an enlarged, funnel-shaped cavity of the optic disc, the point in the eye where the optic nerve fibers leave the retina. The disc is enlarged and has a white center (giving the appearance of a white pupil).  The blood vessels are increased in number and curve as they come from the enlarged disc that have the white center, resulting in this malformation to be similar to petals on a flower. Most reported cases are unilateral (affecting only one eye), sporadic (without other cases in the family), and occur in females.

Symptoms include very poor vision in the affected eye with poor visual acuity. MGS may occur by itself or along with other eye abnormalities, such as crossed eyes (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia), or other non-ocular problems like brain disorders. It does not appear to be a specific genetic disorder.^[1][2][3] Typically, individuals with non-ocular  findings also have a wide head, depressed nasal bridge, and mid upper lip defect or cleft.^[3] MGS seems to be caused from failure of the optic nerve to completely form when the baby is developing.  The most severe complication is retinal detachment, and can occur in about 26–38% of people with MGS.^[4] The MGS is sometimes misdiagnosed as an optic nerve coloboma.^[3] 

Treatment includes surgery and may result in some recovery of vision.  Depending on the other associated abnormalities some patients require referrals to several specialties such as neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, otolaryngology, and dentistry. All people diagnosed with morning glory disc anomaly should have brain image exams.^[3][4]

 

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