Wagner Syndrome

Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More

Wagner syndrome is an inherited disorder that is characterized by vision loss that worsens over time. This condition affects the thick, clear fluid that fills the eyeball (the vitreous) and the specialized light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye (retina). The signs and symptoms of the condition typically begin in early adolescence.

Genetic changes that cause disease are called pathogenic variants. Pathogenic variants in the VCAN gene cause Wagner syndrome. The VCAN gene provides instructions for making a protein called versican core protein. This protein is found in the extracellular matrix, which is the intricate lattice of proteins and other molecules that forms in the spaces between cells. Versican core protein interacts with many of these molecules to provide structure and support to the extracellular matrix. Within the eye, versican core portein helps maintain the gel-like consistency of the vitreous.

Wagner syndrome is a rare disorder. Fewer than 1 in 1 million people are estimated to have the condition. Approximately 100 affected individuals have been reported in the scientific literature.

Wagner syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Published Date: June 29, 2026
Published By: National Institutes of Health