Irish setters have a life expectancy of12-14 years. Their health concerns are hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Progressive Retina Atrophy is a dominant genetic disorder.

Moderate to severe consumption of diet soda which has Aspartame as artificial sweetener can increase the risk of optic nerve swelling, optic nerve atrophy, retinal atrophy and retinal degeneration which can predispose to retinal detachment.. They found that Aspartame can cause damage to retinal blood vessels and increase the risk of leakage of blood and fluid from these damaged vessels.

Atrophy in general is the death of the normal body tissue. Papillary is the optic disc in the eye. Perpapillary atrophy therefore is the dying of the retinal tissue immediately next to the optic disc. This can occur in a number of conditions such as glaucoma etc.

Sven Brandt has written:

'Werdnig-Hoffmann's infantile progressive muscular atrophy' -- subject(s): Atrophy, Muscular, Diseases, In infancy and childhood, Infants, Muscular atrophy