The extent and rate of vision loss vary greatly among patients with juvenile retinoschisis. Central vision is almost always affected. Some patients retain useful vision well into adulthood, while others experience a rapid decline during childhood. Inheritance Juvenile retinoschisis is genetically passed through families by the X-linked pattern of inheritance. In this type of inheritance, the gene for the disease is located on the X chromosome.
Females have two X chromosomes and can carry the disease gene on one of their X chromosomes.
Because they have a healthy version of the gene on their other X chromosome, females typically are not affected by X-linked diseases such as juvenile retinoschisis. Sometimes, however, when carrier females are examined, the retina shows minor signs of the disease. Males cannot be carriers of X-linked diseases. Males affected with an X-linked disease always pass the gene on the X chromosome to their daughters, who then become carriers. Affected males never pass an X-linked disease gene to their sons because fathers pass the Y chromosome to their sons.