Retinitis pigmentosa - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Primary symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa include impaired night vision, problems with dark adaptation, decreased peripheral vision, and eventually decreased visual acuity.
Electroretinograms help confirm the diagnosis by demonstrating attenuated rod and cone signals.
Onset and pattern of degeneration vary but most cases demonstrate atrophy of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium, bone spicule pigmentation, waxy pallor of the optic nerve, and retinal vascular attenuation.
There is no cure. Vitamin A supplementation and docosahexaenoic acid (fish oils) are given in some centers with the aim of slowing retinal degeneration. Gene replacement therapy has demonstrated improved functional vision in patients with RPE65-mediated inherited retinal dystrophy.

Retinitis pigmentosa

From the Oregon Retinal Degeneration Center collection

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

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Citations

Key Articles

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Comprehensive adult medical eye evaluation PPP. Nov 2020 [internet publication].[Full Text]
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Guidelines on clinical assessment of patients with inherited retinal degenerations - 2022. Oct 2022 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Robson AG, Frishman LJ, Grigg J, et al. ISCEV Standard for full-field clinical electroretinography (2022 update). Doc Ophthalmol. 2022 Jun;144(3):165-77.[Abstract][Full Text]
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Recommendations for genetic testing of inherited eye diseases. February 2014 [internet publication].[Full Text]

Other Online Resources

Royal College of Ophthalmologists: understanding retinitis pigmentosa

Referenced Articles

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