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Retinitis pigmentosa Causes and Risks:
The cause of this disorder is unknown, but it may be an inherited disorder. The cells controlling night vision, called rods, are primarily affected. Dark pigmentation may be present on the retina . As the disease progresses, peripheral vision is lost as well and may lead to blindness . Signs and symptoms often first appear in childhood, but visual incapacity does not develop until early adulthood. The risk factors are a family history of retinitis
pigmentosa. It is a rare condition.
Prevention:
Genetic counseling may determine the risk of this disease occurring in a person's offspring.
Symptoms:
- vision decreased at night or in reduced light
- loss of peripheral vision
- loss of central vision (in advanced cases)
Signs and Tests:
Tests determine the integrity of the retina :
Treatment:
The is no effective treatment for this condition. The use of sunglasses to protect the retina from ultraviolet light may have a vision-preserving effect. Recent studies have indicated that treatment with antioxidant agents such as vitamin E may delay the progression of this disease.
Prognosis:
The disorder will continue to progress.
Complications:
Peripheral and central loss of vision ( blindness ) will eventually occur. Retinitis pigmentosa is associated with a number of other disorders, including:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if night vision becomes difficult or if other symptoms of this disorder develop.
This is an illustration of a cross-section and frontal view of the eye.
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