Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive degeneration of the retina (part of the eye) which affects night vision and peripheral vision. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Early signs of Retinitis pigmentosa usually appear during childhood or adolescence, but severe visual problems do not usually develop until early adulthood.

• Night blindness
• Slow loss of side vision
• Inflammation of the retina
• Marked limitation of the field of vision (tunnel vision)
• Loss of kinesthetic sense (sense of body movement)
• Shrinkage of the retina
• Clumping of retinal pigment
• Dislodging of the blood vessels of the retina

Fortunately, most cases of retinitis pigmentosa take a long time to develop and vision loss is gradual. It may take many years for loss of vision to be severe.

Detection and Diagnosis

Treatment

Currently, there is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa, but there is research that indicates that vitamin A and lutein may slow the rate at which the disease progresses. Your doctor of optometry can give you more specific information on nutritional supplements that may help you.

Also, there are many new low vision aids, including telescopic and magnifying lenses, night vision scopes as well as other adaptive devices, that are available that help people maximize the vision that they have remaining. An optometrist, experienced in low vision rehabilitation, can provide these devices as well as advice about other training and assistance to help people remain independent and productive.

Becuase it is an inherited disease, research into genetics may one day provide a prevention or cure for those who have retinitis pigmentosa.