Retinitis Pigmentosa is a hereditary disorder that has a variable pattern of transmission. It can be passed on as a sex-linked trait or as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. It is a disease of the rods (the retinal photoreceptor largely responsible for vision in dim light and for peripheral vision), so that the primary symptoms relate to a failure to see properly in dim illumination. The disease may be mild or may progress to cause total blindness, depending on the nature of the condition and its duration. It is not inevitable that each case will develop and cause constricting field loss. Some cases of retinitis pigmentosa remain stable for a lifetime.
At this time there is no specific treatment for this disease. Treatment with 15000 IU/day of vitamin A palmitate has been suggested. It is important to know your genetic tree so you could get help from genetic counseling.
Many causes of Retinitis Pigmentosa are mild and either do not appear to progress or do so quite slowly. Naturally, persons who develop the disease in their first decade are worse off than those who develop Retinitis Pigmentosa in their forties or fifties.
If you are concerned about Retinitis Pigmentosa or have a family member who has Retinitis Pigmentosa please call Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 for an eye examination.
