The association of autosomal dominant optic atrophy and moderate deafness may be due to the R445H mutation in the OPA1 gene.

Purpose: To examine the involvement of the optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) gene in optic atrophy associated with moderate deafness.
Design: Observational case report. The entire coding sequence of the OPA1 gene was directly sequenced in the case of a patient suffering from optic atrophy associated with moderate deafness.
Results: A de novo heterozygous mutation R445H in the OPA1 gene was found. No similar mutation was detected in either of the patient's parents or in the 100 chromosome controls.
Conclusion: The R445H mutation in OPA1 might be the cause of the association between dominant optic atrophy and moderate deafness, a phenotype that may be currently underdiagnosed.