Other name: RP, pigmentary retinopathy, night-blindness disease
Retinitus pigmentosa is a group of rare diseases affecting the retina. Symptoms progress from poor night vision to loss of peripheral vision and may include blindness in some people. There is no cure for retinitus pigmentosa, but experimental treatments may slow its progression. Visual aids along with professional monitoring and support areessential aids to coping with symptoms.
What is retinitus pigmentosa?
Retinitus pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, inherited diseases affecting the retina, the layer of tissue located at the back of the eye where we “see.” The onset of symptoms can begin in early childhood with poor night vision. Peripheral vision usually deteriorates in early adulthood. By middle age, people with RP may see with limited tunnel vision only. Peripheral vision can continue to diminish and progress to blindness. However, some forms of retinitus pigmentosa begin later in life or progress more slowly, so total blindness does not occur.
Retinitus pigmentosa is also associated with nearsightedness, cataracts, degenerative vitreous opacities and inherited hearing loss.
Retinitis pigmentosa is believed to be caused by one or more defective genes. In RP, the light-sensing cells (rods) in the eye slowly degenerate, changing the way light is seen. Certain color-sensing cells (cones) may also be affected, distorting both colors and vision.
Surgery to replace the retina is not possible at this time, and there is no known cure for this disease. However, successful preliminary trials have been conducted to slow its progress using dilatiazem (a commonly prescribed heart drug) and large doses of vitamins A and E. Protection from sunlight and eye patching may also be recommended. Medical consultation and monitoring is required for all forms of treatment.
Electronic magnifiers, night vision scopes, magnifying lenses, telescopic lenses, field enhancers and special filters can all help people cope better with the symptoms of RP.
Early diagnosis of retinitus pigmentosa is essential in treatment and in planning for its progressive development. Patients with RP should therefore seek out low-vision specialists, counselors and vocational advisors so they can make the most of the vision they have.
For more information
http://www.eyesearch.com/blindness.htm
http://www.adam.com/ency/article/001029.htm
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/texts/guide/
http://www.eyesearch.com/disorders.diseases
http://www.npicenter.com/dailynewswire/archive/
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section8/
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/ch225.htm
http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/alert%2Drp.htm
http://www.irpa.org/intro.htm#rp
http://mol.ophth.uiowa.edu/MOL_WWW/RP.html
http://www.eyenet.org/public/faqs/
