Understanding RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA [Archives:2000/47/Health]

OPHTHALMIC EDUCATION (16)
What is Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?
Retinitis pigmentosa is the name given to a group of hereditary eye disorders. These disorders affect the retina, which is the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. In RP, sight loss is gradual but progressive.
What is the retina?
The retina in your eyes serves a similar purpose to a film inside a camera.
What causes Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?
There are different inherited defects that cause RP. In all cases, the ability of the retina to respond to light is affected.
What are the symptoms of RP?
Difficulty in seeing at night is the most common symptom. The patient has difficulty in seeing outdoors at dusk or in a poorly lit room.
Reduction of the visual field is the second symptom. The sight is lost from the sides or from above or below. This is often referred as tunnel vision.
Sometimes the central vision may be lost.
The condition is usually progressive, but the speed at which deterioration takes place varies from one person to another.
Is there any treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa?
Until now there is no treatment for this disease. Some advice taking vitamin A to improve the function of the retina but that has not been proved. The only thing that these patients can do is to visit their eye doctor regularly.
There is a lot of research going on to find out the genes and the treatment for the above disease and there is hope to understand it thoroughly and then treating it effectively.
Certain eye doctors prescribe these patients to undergo operation to improve the circulation of the retina but that has not been proved to be effective or even of any value.
Advice to patients affected with Retinitis Pigmentosa:
1.If the disease has been diagnosed in a child it is advisable to put them in the right school which is suitable for them.
2.If the disease is diagnosed in the elderly it is advisable for them to stop driving especially at night.
3.If the disease is diagnosed in a member of a family it is better for the family not to marry between relatives.
REMEMBER:
Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary eye disorder
Difficulty in seeing in poor light is the most common symptom of RP
The disease is common in Yemen because of marriage between relatives
Routine eye exam by an eye specialist is very important. It is your sight and your eyes need every care they deserve
Reference: PAACO educational leaflets, Cairo.
Mahfouth A Bamashmus FRCSEd, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Ibn Al-Haitham Clinic
University of Science & Technology, Sanaa

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