Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinal rods are affected, causing defective night vision that becomes symptomatic at varying ages, sometimes in early childhood. Night vision may eventually be lost. A peripheral ring scotoma (detectable by visual field testing) widens gradually, and central vision may also be affected in advanced cases. Vision decreases as the macula becomes increasingly involved and can evolve to legal blindness.

Hyperpigmentation in a bone-spicule configuration in the midperipheral retina is the most conspicuous funduscopic finding. Other findings include the following:

• Narrowing of the retinal arterioles

• Cystoid macular edema

• Waxy yellow appearance of the disk

• Posterior subcapsular cataracts

• Cells in the vitreous (less common)

• Myopia

• Funduscopy

• Electroretinography

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Image

WESTERN OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Family members should be examined and tested as necessary or desired to establish the hereditary pattern. Patients with a hereditary syndrome may wish to seek genetic counseling before having children.

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Lutein plus zeaxanthin

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for cystoid macular edema

• Intraocular computer chip implants

1). This treatment can restore ambulatory vision in these patients. For patients with total or near total vision loss, epiretinal and subretinal computer chip implants can restore some visual sensations.

• Early symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa include defective night vision and peripheral vision.

• Diagnose by hyperpigmentation in a bone-spicule configuration on funduscopy and confirm with electroretinography.

• Treat patients with cystoid macular edema with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.