Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is a group of eye diseases that cause gradual but progressive vision loss. The retina contains light receptors called rods (responsible for night vision) and cones (responsible for color and day vision). In this type of disease, the rod cells of the retina are affected, with or without cone cells. RP is the most common cause of night blindness.
Most forms of RP are hereditary, or genetic, although symptoms do not occur in every generation. Knowing your family history of the disease can help you and your doctor make informed decisions about treatment.
Symptoms:
Difficulty seeing at night or in low light (night blindness)
Loss of peripheral vision (leading to tunnel vision)
These symptoms often appear in early adulthood, although they can appear at any age, even in childhood.
Treatment:
There are currently no treatments for RP. Sometimes, the destruction of light-receptor cells can be delayed so that vision can be preserved for a longer period of time. Genetic studies are an important factor in finding a cure or prevention for this disease, which is currently being done.
If a patient is in the final stages of RP, they may be eligible for an Argus retinal implant, which can restore some vision in some people.
Referral to a low vision specialist and regular eye exams can help detect cataracts and retinal detachment early, both of which are treatable. Several microchips are in the early stages of design that may in the future be implanted into the retina and used to treat blindness caused by this disease.
Prevention:
Genetic counseling in patients with the disease can largely determine whether the affected person's child is at risk of this disease. RP disease is a hereditary disease and has different types, so that in some cases, 50% of children in a family may be affected by this disease.
Due to the presence of recessive forms of the disease, consanguineous marriage is not recommended in these individuals.