Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited condition that affects the retina and may cause vision loss. Although it’s untreatable, it’s manageable.

Retinitis pigmentosa

The retina is a group of layers at the back of the eye, and it’s responsible for transforming the light into electrical signals for the brain to read them as images.

In the case of retinitis pigmentosa, the retina doesn’t work as normal, and this can lead to vision loss.

Causes of retinitis pigmentosa

• Retinitis pigmentosa occurs due to a genetic disorder that causes the cells in the retina to fail progressively, and it’s an inherited condition, which means that a person is born with it.

Symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa

Symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa typically start in late childhood or the teen years and progress gradually. They include:

• Night blindness or difficulty seeing in low light.
• Tunnel vision (narrowing of the vision field).
• Blind spots on the edges of the vision.
• With time, the patient begins to have difficulties in reading or doing close work, detecting various colors, and recognizing faces of those who are approaching.

Diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa

• Eye tests.
• Visual field test.
• Tests to examine the retina.
• Genetic tests.

Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa

• There isn’t a cure for retinitis pigmentosa. However, there are certain therapies and treatments to help improve the patient’s vision, such as vision assistive devices, occupational therapy, special education, and support groups.