Trouble Seeing at Dusk and a Narrowing Side View: A Plain-Language Guide to Retinitis Pigmentosa

A child who will not walk into a dark room without a parent, a teenager who bumps into things at dusk, an adult who keeps missing objects off to the side. These can all be early clues to retinitis pigmentosa, a rare group of inherited retina diseases.

What RP is

The National Eye Institute (NEI) explains that retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare eye diseases that make cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss. RP is genetic, and people are born with it. Symptoms usually start in childhood, and most people eventually lose most of their sight.

Symptoms

• Loss of night vision, the most common early symptom, often starting in childhood. Parents may notice trouble moving around in the dark or adjusting to dim light.
• Loss of side (peripheral) vision, which slowly narrows the field of view toward tunnel vision.
• Sensitivity to bright light and loss of color vision.

Some people lose vision faster than others.

Causes

NEI notes that RP is usually caused by changes in genes that control retinal cells, passed from parents to children, and that it is linked to many different genes. A genetic counselor can help families understand their risk. RP can also be part of other conditions, such as Usher syndrome, which affects both vision and hearing.

How it is diagnosed

RP can be found during a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes a visual field test. Other tests include electroretinography (ERG), OCT imaging, fundus autofluorescence and genetic testing.

Treatment and support

There is no cure for RP. NEI notes that low vision aids and rehabilitation programs can help people make the most of their vision. NEI also says vitamin A may help slow vision loss in common forms of RP, but too much can cause liver problems, so this should only be done with a doctor’s guidance. People with RP are also more likely to have cataracts and swelling in the center of the retina, so regular exams matter.

RP care is managed by retina and inherited eye disease specialists, and we refer patients who need that expertise.

For more on keeping your eyes healthy at every age, visit this healthy vision blog.

If your child struggles in the dark more than their siblings did, mention it to their pediatrician and eye doctor. Early answers help families plan.

Source: Retinitis Pigmentosa (National Eye Institute (NIH)). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.