Retinitis Pigmentosa
By Gretchyn Bailey;
reviewed by Dr. Vance Thompson
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare, inherited disease in which the light-sensitive retina
of the eye slowly and progressively degenerates. Eventually, blindness results.
Retinitis Pigmentosa Symptoms and Signs
The first signs of retinitis pigmentosa usually occur in early childhood, when both eyes typically are affected.
Night vision can be poor, and the field of vision may begin to narrow. During later stages of retinitis pigmentosa, only a small area of central vision
remains, along with slight peripheral vision.
 |
A shrinking field of vision is one of the early warning
signs of retinitis pigmentosa.
| |
What Causes RP?
Not much is known about what causes retinitis pigmentosa, except that the disease is inherited. Even if your mother and father
don't have retinitis pigmentosa, you can still have the eye disease when at least one parent carries an altered gene associated with the trait.
In fact, about 1 percent of the population can be considered carriers of recessive genetic tendencies for retinitis pigmentosa that, in
certain circumstances, can be passed on to a child who then develops the disease (Ophthalmology 2004).
Rather than being considered a single disease, retinitis pigmentosa instead is viewed as a group of diseases affecting how light-sensitive cells in the back of the eye (retina) function.
Rods — the light-sensing retinal cells that are responsible for vision in dim light — gradually deteriorate until seeing at night becomes more difficult.
Retinitis Pigmentosa Tests and Treatment
Visual field testing likely will be done to determine the extent of peripheral vision loss.
Other eye exams may be conducted to determine whether you have lost night or color vision.
No treatments currently are available for retinitis pigmentosa, although some practitioners believe that vitamin A may slightly delay vision loss.
Occupational therapy may be helpful, because it's easier to adjust to declining vision in earlier stages of vision loss.
Individuals with retinitis pigmentosa also might consider use of low vision devices
that can help magnify and illuminate objects in home and work spaces.
Researchers are looking into ways to treat RP in the future, such as retinal implants and drug treatments. Read about recent success with
implants for people with retinitis pigmentosa and an
artificial retina that is being tested in clinical trials.
[Page updated May 2007]
More articles on eye conditions, diseases & safety: |
| 
Cataracts
