Kearns-Sayre syndrome /kernz sār/ [Thomas P. Kearns, American ophthalmologist, 1922–2011; George P. Sayre, American pathologist, 1911–1991] , progressive ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary degeneration of the retina, myopathy, ataxia, and cardiac conduction defect, with onset before the age of 20 years. Almost all patients have large mitochondrial DNA deletions, and ragged red fibers are seen on muscle biopsy. Also called ophthalmoplegia plus.
