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Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (retinopathia pigmentosa)

What it is

Inherited slow death of the retina's rods, then cones: night blindness in youth, a shrinking tunnel of vision after.

Symptoms & signs

  • Night blindness
  • losing side vision
  • bumping into things
  • glare
  • central vision lost late

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden loss of vision or a curtain over vision
  • see a doctor soon Rapid drop in central vision
  • see a doctor soon Painful red eye
  • see a doctor soon Glare or blurring getting worse — possible cataract or swelling

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Genetic testing
  • low-vision aids and mobility training
  • treat cataract and macular swelling
  • voretigene gene therapy for RPE65 mutations

Natural & lifestyle

  • UV-blocking glasses
  • regular eye checks
  • genetic counselling for the family

Emerging & experimental

  • Optogenetics
  • gene editing
  • retinal implants and cell transplants

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Vitamin A palmitate — one trial slowed decline; others did not, and high doses harm the liver and pregnancy mixed evidence
  • Vitamin E — worsened decline in that trial not confirmed in trials
  • DHA fish oil — small trials disagree early / small studies
  • Saffron and lutein — small studies early / small studies

ICD codes