Overview
Wagner disease (also called Wagner vitreoretinal degeneration or Wagner syndrome) is a rare inherited eye condition that affects the gel-like fluid inside the eye called the vitreous, as well as the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. In people with Wagner disease, the vitreous becomes abnormally thin and liquefied instead of staying firm and clear. Over time, this leads to serious problems with vision. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in the VCAN gene, which provides instructions for making a protein called versican that helps maintain the structure of the eye. The main symptoms include poor night vision, reduced side (peripheral) vision, and a gradual decline in overall eyesight. Many people also develop cataracts (clouding of the eye's lens) and are at increased risk of retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency. Some people may also develop a condition where the retina slowly wastes away (chorioretinal atrophy). There is currently no cure for Wagner disease. Treatment focuses on managing complications — for example, surgery for cataracts or retinal detachment, and regular monitoring by an eye specialist. With careful follow-up and timely treatment of complications, many people can preserve useful vision for many years, though vision loss tends to worsen slowly over time.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Blurry or reduced visionPoor night vision (difficulty seeing in low light)Loss of side (peripheral) visionFloaters or unusual shapes seen in the field of visionCataracts (clouding of the lens inside the eye)Retinal detachment (the retina peeling away from the back of the eye)Gradual wasting away of the retina and underlying tissue (chorioretinal atrophy)Nearsightedness (myopia)Abnormally thin or liquefied vitreous gel inside the eyePossible complete vision loss in severe or untreated cases
Clinical phenotype terms (13)— hover any for plain English
Autosomal dominant
Passed on from just one parent; each child has about a 50% chance of inheriting it
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
4 eventsEluciderm Inc — PHASE1, PHASE2
Samaritan Biologics — NA
Estar Medical dba Medical Technologies, LTD — PHASE2
PolarityTE — PHASE3
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Wagner disease.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Wagner disease at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Wagner disease.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Wagner disease.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Wagner disease
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Evaluation of ELU42 Topical Spray for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Wagner disease
New recruiting trial: Evaluating the Efficacy of Perinatal Membrane Allografts in Addition to the Standard of Care for the Treatment of Non-healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Wagner disease
New recruiting trial: Evaluate Use of Tropocells(R) Autologous Platelet-rich Fibrin (PRF) for Wagner Grade 1 and Grade 2, Mild to Mod Neuroischemic Plantar Diabetic Foot Ulcer Wound Care.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Wagner disease
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How advanced is my Wagner disease right now, and what changes should I watch for?,How often should I have eye exams, and what specific tests do I need each time?,What are the warning signs of retinal detachment, and what should I do if I notice them?,Should my children or other family members be tested for this condition?,Are there any clinical trials or new treatments I should know about?,What low vision services or aids might help me maintain my independence?,Should I see a genetic counselor to understand the risk of passing this on to my children?
Common questions about Wagner disease
What is Wagner disease?
Wagner disease (also called Wagner vitreoretinal degeneration or Wagner syndrome) is a rare inherited eye condition that affects the gel-like fluid inside the eye called the vitreous, as well as the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. In people with Wagner disease, the vitreous becomes abnormally thin and liquefied instead of staying firm and clear. Over time, this leads to serious problems with vision. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in the VCAN gene, which provides instructions for making a protein called versican that helps maintain the structure of the
How is Wagner disease inherited?
Wagner disease follows a autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Wagner disease?
13 specialists and care centers treating Wagner disease are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.