Retinis Pigmentosa

Caused by retinal cell damage and leads to progressive impairment and eventual blindness.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive, degernative, and notoriously unpredictable disorder that can lead to major vision impairment and eventual blindness. The disorder affects the retina and is difficult to diagnose. It shows virtually no external effects on the eyes, and typically renders an individual as legally blind upon diagnosis.

How Retinis Pigmentosa Impacts Vision

Retinitis pigmentosa can cause blindness and severe loss of peripheral vision. It may also cause night blindness, extreme sensitivity to glares, and prolonged visual adjustments to contrasting shades of light (think: turning on and off a light switch). Currently, there is no cure for the disease, and treatment is scarce – though research suggests vitamin A supplements may delay blindness for nearly a decade.

Retinis Pigmentosa Causes

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited condition that affects one in every 4,000 people in the United States. The disorder is a result of retinal cell damage, and is thought to develop rapidly among older adults. Symptoms appear early on in childhood.