What is retinitis pigmentosa?

Retinitis pigmentosa is an eye disease that involves damage to the retina. It affects approximately one in 4,000 people in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health.

People with a family history of retinitis pigmentosa are at highest risk for the disease; genetic counseling is available to identify children at risk.

A common symptom is dark spots in the retina that often appear during childhood. Other more serious symptoms that occur during adulthood include decreased vision at night or, in situations in which light is low, having tunnel vision or a loss of central vision.

Other conditions that are similar to retinitis pigmentosa include Friedreich’s ataxia, Laurence-Moon syndrome and Usher syndrome. Exams and tests used to diagnose retinitis pigmentosa include color vision, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp exam and an exam of the retina by ophthalmoscopy after pupil dilation.

There is no effective treatment available. While complete blindness is not a common occurrence with this disease, retinitis pigmentosa does progress slowly. Possible complications include the development of cataracts over time and macular edema. The National Institutes of Health recommends wearing sunglasses to protect the retina from UV light to help preserve vision. Research is underway to examine treatment options such as the use of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. In addition, retinal implants are in development and being implanted in some patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Additional information may be found at these websites:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001029.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024256/

http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/pigmentosa.html