Retinitis Pigmentosa: Causes, Tests, and Treatment Options

By Henry James

Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is when there is retinal damage caused by genetic defects. The cells controlling that night vision, or rods, are damaged and so are the retinal cone cells. There can be dark deposits in the retina. This condition can also be known as rod-cone dystrophy, or progressive pigmentary retinopathy. It was first mentioned in 1855 by the Dutch ophthalmologist Franziscus C. Donders. The condition affects night vision among other visual disorders and can lead in some cases to total blindness. Some of the most severe signs do not happen until early adulthood. Symptoms of RP include tunnel vision, night blindness, glare or light problems, double vision, cataracts, and decreased visual acuity. While there is no cure for RP, several treatment options are available to help you manage the disease.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andale LLC
• Release date: Mar 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476057774

Henry James

Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author of novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction. He spent most of his life in Europe, and much of his work regards the interactions and complexities between American and European characters. Among his works in this vein are The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Bostonians (1886), and The Ambassadors (1903). Through his influence, James ushered in the era of American realism in literature. In his lifetime he wrote 12 plays, 112 short stories, 20 novels, and many travel and critical works. He was nominated three times for the Noble Prize in Literature.

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Retinitis Pigmentosa: Causes, Tests, and Treatment Options

James Henry, MA

Jeremy Norville, MD (Ed.)

Smashwords Edition

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Copyright 2012 James Henry, Jeremy Norville

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

Contents

Introduction

Causes

Testing

Treatment Options

Related Disorders

Organizations Related To Retinitis Pigmentosa

Appendix A: Internet Resources / Further Reading

Glossary of Medical Terms

References

Introduction

According to PubMed Health, retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, is when there is retinal damage caused by genetic defects. It was first mentioned in 1855 by the Dutch ophthalmologist Franziscus C. Donders. The condition occurs in about one in every 4,000 United States citizens and affects their night vision among other visual disorders. The cells controlling that night vision, or rods, are damaged and so are the retinal cone cells. There can be dark deposits in the retina. This condition can also be known as rod-cone dystrophy, or progressive pigmentary retinopathy. Some of the most severe signs do not happen until early adulthood. Symptoms of RP include tunnel vision, night blindness, glare or light problems, double vision, cataracts, and decreased visual acuity.

Tunnel vision as a symptom in retinitis pigmentosa is where the vision loss is like a donut ring. The outer edges of vision are blanked, or dark, and there is only a circular patch of sight in the very center, like looking through a tube. It will progress peripherally and centrally as it continues. Sometimes the tunnel vision may not progress into affecting central vision, but there is also a chance that it will. This tunnel vision worsens in bad weather and at night. Studies have suggested that 5 percent of the remaining field of vision is affected, on average, per year.

Normal eyesight (top) and retinitis pigmentosa (bottom)

Night blindness is the other key symptom of the condition and may be the first symptom known. The retina rod cells are the first to degenerate in retinitis