{"id":9318,"date":"2021-01-05T18:30:51","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T18:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9318"},"modified":"2021-12-13T12:21:37","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T12:21:37","slug":"retinitis-pigmentosa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-retinal-diseases\/retinitis-pigmentosa\/","title":{"rendered":"Retinitis Pigmentosa"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most frequently occurring forms of inherited retinal degeneration, affecting around 1 in 4,000 people, worldwide.<\/b><\/h2>\n<h2>What is Retinitis Pigmentosa?<\/h2>\n<p>Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare, genetic, ocular disease that causes retinal damage and permanent vision loss.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-anatomy-the-back-of-the-eye\/\">retina<\/a> is the light-sensing back part of the eye which collects the light of whatever we are looking at and sends as neural signals to the brain.<\/p>\n<p>In the initial stages of this condition, the retinal cells begin to degenerate in the part of the retina responsible for mid-peripheral vision\u2014 causing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/what-causes-night-blindness\/\">decreased night vision<\/a> (nyctalopia), mid-peripheral visual field loss and difficulty seeing in low light.<\/p>\n<p>The rapid progression of the disease continues to destroy cells throughout the peripheral visual field\u2014 resulting in tunnel vision\u2014 where only images located in the center of the visual field are seen.<\/p>\n<p>The later stages of this disease affects the central part of the visual field. This results in significant loss of functional sight and color vision, reduced visual acuity, and eventually blindness for most patients.<\/p>\n<p>Retinitis pigmentosa typically develops in childhood or adolescence. The rate of disease progression varies from patient to patient, but generally leads to significant vision loss and for many patients, total blindness by 40 years of age.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you experience blurry vision, <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1626760891136000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFHnklrD-k7GckF_J6pnDwdBDDa9Q\">contact an eye doctor<\/a>\u00a0near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-retinal-diseases\/what-are-eye-flashes\/\">What Are Eye Flashes?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Symptoms of RP<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Symptoms of RP usually occur in both eyes at a similar rate, but vary depending on the stage of the disease.<\/p>\n<p>The most common symptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intense glare<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/neuro-optometry\/light-sensitivity\/\">Sensitivity to bright lights<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flickering, shimmering, or swirling lights<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peripheral vision loss (in earlier stages)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tunnel vision<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impaired night vision<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjustment difficulties when moving from bright light to dim light<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty seeing colors and fine details<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central vision loss (in later stages)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How low vision aids can help\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for RP. However, many patients learn to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-low-vision\/low-vision\/guide-to-low-vision-magnifiers\/what-to-look-for-in-a-low-vision-magnifier-2\/\">low vision aids<\/a> to manage their low vision and gain independence for daily activities.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the most common low vision devices include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hand-held magnifiers<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low vision magnifying reading glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital magnifiers or close circuit television (CCT)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custom-made optical systems<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Side-vision awareness glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioptic telescopic glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prismatic reading glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tele-microscopic glasses<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reverse telescopic glasses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before choosing a low vision device, it is important to determine what you would like to gain from your low vision aid. Low vision aids can be compact and portable for on-the-go lifestyles, fixed onto your eyeglass frames, or permanently situated onto a counter or tabletop.<\/p>\n<p>Low vision devices are also available in low tech and high tech displays\u2014 this is an important factor to consider if you are not comfortable with advanced technology and would prefer a simpler device.<\/p>\n<p>Speak with your eye doctor or low vision specialist before deciding which low vision aid is right for you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-retinal-diseases\/\">Guide to Retinal Disease<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1626760891136000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFHnklrD-k7GckF_J6pnDwdBDDa9Q\">Schedule an appointment<\/a>\u00a0with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to discuss any questions you may have about treating your eye condition.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you have been diagnosed with RP, your eye doctor can provide you with a wealth of information to help you manage life with low vision.\u00a0You don\u2019t need to go through this alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most frequently occurring forms of inherited retinal degeneration, affecting around 1 in 4,000 people, worldwide. What is Retinitis Pigmentosa?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":19928,"parent":20096,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[174,482,368],"class_list":["post-9318","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-low-vision","tag-low-vision-aids","tag-retinal-disease"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Retinitis Pigmentosa - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-retinal-diseases\/retinitis-pigmentosa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Retinitis Pigmentosa - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most frequently occurring forms of inherited retinal degeneration, affecting around 1 in 4,000 people, worldwide. 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