Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare, progressive degeneration of the retina (the transparent, light-sensitive structure at the back of the eye) that eventually causes moderate to severe vision loss.

Retinitis pigmentosa is often inherited. One form has a dominant pattern of inheritance, requiring only one abnormal gene from either parent. Other forms are recessive and require an abnormal gene from both parents. An X-linked recessive form occurs mainly in males who inherit one abnormal gene from their mother. In some people, mostly males, hearing loss may also be inherited (a disorder called Usher syndrome).

Symptoms

The photoreceptor (light-sensing) cells of the retina that enable people to see at night or in the dark or dim light (called rods) gradually degenerate. As a result, seeing at night or in the dark or dim light becomes difficult. Symptoms begin at various ages often in childhood. Over time, peripheral vision progressively deteriorates. People may eventually lose the ability to see at night or in dim light. In the late stages of the disease, the person typically has only a small area of central vision and possibly no peripheral vision remaining (tunnel vision).

Diagnosis

Doctors suspect the diagnosis in people who have poor night vision or a family history. When examining the retina with an ophthalmoscope, doctors see specific changes that suggest the diagnosis. Tests such as the electroretinogram, which evaluates the electrical response of the retina to light, may help confirm the diagnosis and determine how the severity of the disorder has changed over time.

Family members should be examined so that the inheritance pattern can be determined if possible. If the disorder is present in other family members, genetic counseling should be considered before having children.

Treatment

No treatment can reverse the damage caused by retinitis pigmentosa. Vitamin ASome Trade Names
AQUASOL A
palmitate may help slow the progression of the disorder in some people. Supplements with an omega-3 fatty acid (for example, docosahexaenoic acid) and a combination of lutein plus zeaxanthin may also slow the rate of vision loss. Gene therapy, implantable cells, and artificial chip implants are under investigation.

Last full review/revision March 2013 by Sunir J. Garg, MD, FACS