Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa is a generalized name for a group of hereditary disorders, the result of genetic mutations. It is characterized by a gradual decrease in the visual field and progressive degeneration initially of the rods, photoreceptors which are responsible for peripheral vision and for night perception, and later the degeneration of the cones, photoreceptors located in the center of the retina, in the macula, and are responsible for central vision, recognition of details and colors.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a binocular disease, but depending on the type of disease, both the age of onset of the disease and the rate of its progression differ.

Clinical symptoms:

• Limitation of the visual field (tubular vision).
• Gradual deterioration of visual acuity.
• Noctalopia (decrease in night vision).
• Premature cataracts.
• Difficulty adapting to changes in brightness, from bright light to dark and vice versa.

Unfortunately, retinitis pigmentosa, if not treated in time, can lead to too low vision, and even blindness.

It is important for the patient from the very first stages of the disease to contact the Optometrist specialized in low vision. The Optometrist with low vision aids and special low vision glasses can help the patient maintain his field of vision, artificially expand his field of vision (if it has already decreased) and increase his visual acuity.

Special glasses-protection filters glasses are absolutely necessary in order to minimize discomfort from bright light, but also to help both in the alternations of brightness and in the better perception of vision at night.