Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
What causes Retinitis Pigmentosa?
Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is a genetic eye condition. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some sight all their life. Others go completely blind from RP, in some cases as early as childhood. Progression of RP is different in each case.
RP is a group of inherited disorders in which abnormalities of the photoreceptors (rods and cones) or the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the retina lead to progressive visual loss. Affected individuals first experience defective dark adaptation or nyctalopia (night blindness), followed by constriction of the peripheral visual field and, eventually, loss of central vision late in the course of the disease.
Is Retinitis Pigmentosa treatable?
Unfortunately, there is currently no medical treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, although scientists continue to investigate possible treatments. Future treatments may involve retinal transplants, artificial retinal implants, gene therapy, stem cells, nutritional supplements, and/or drug therapies.
What is it like to see with Retinitis Pigmentosa?
The images below give a very rough idea of what it is like to see with Retinitis Pigmentosa.
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| Normal Sight | Same image seen with Retinitis Pigmentosa |
Suitable reading aids for people with Retinitis Pigmentosa
You can find our range of suitable electronic magnifiers here
Some people's eye conditions may make the use of an electronic magnifier difficult. This is where our range of easy to use text to speech reading machines may be more suitable.
Acknowledgements: Wikipedia: Retinitis Pigmentosa
