Retinal Pigmentosa
What is Retinitis Pigmentosa?
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of diseases which tend to
run in families and cause slow, but progressive loss of vision. The
retina is the tissue which lines the inside of the eye and sends visual
images to the brain. In RP, there is gradual destruction of some of the
light sensing cells in the retina.
Causes and Symptoms
The cause of retinitis pigmentosa has not been clearly identified. About
fifty percent of RP cases are sporadic with the remaining cases being
hereditary. Learning more about the history of people with RP may help
predict how the disease will progress for the affected person, although
variations can exist even from person to person within a family.
The first symptoms usually start during young adulthood, although it may
be seen first at any age. The two most common symptoms are night
blindness (where adjusting to the dark happens very slowly) and the loss
of side vision. Loss of side or peripheral vision makes mobility very
difficult. Once this occurs, a person is left with only central vision
(as if looking down a tunnel).
Treatment
While developments are on the horizon--particularly in the area of
genetic research--as yet, there is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa. The
retina is attached to the optic nerve and transplants are not yet an
option.
Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to demonstrate benefits
from any treatment methods--including vitamin supplements--currently
available.
One controversial treatment, currently available in Cuba, consists of a
combination of ozone therapy (removing a small amount of blood from the
eye, adding ozone, and replacing it a short while later), electrical
stimulation, dietary supplements and so-called "oligoelements", and eye
surgery under a local anesthetic. The rationale behind these procedures
is to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the affected parts
of the eye.
As yet, this procedure has not been subject to critical review and, as
such, remains outside the medical mainstream. The Cuban clinic where it
has been performed has repeatedly refused to show the procedure to
anyone outside of the clinic. As such, critical review is very
difficult. There have been reports of physical damage to some patients
including detached retinas, crossed eyes, and sensitivity to light.
Because of this, the RP Research Foundation in Canada and the
RP
Foundation Fighting Blindness in the U.S. have called the procedure into
question.
For the latest treatments, please see your ophthalmologist.
Research
Most progress has come in the area of molecular genetics which begins
with the identification of the genes responsible for the condition.
Despite the fact that the first breakthrough came only five years ago,
to date literally hundreds of mutations have been identified in the
genes that cause RP.
For more information, you can contact the RP Research Foundation in
Canada at the address below.
RP Research Foundation
Fighting Blindness
36 Toronto Street, Suite 910
Toronto, ON M5C 2C5
Tel: (800) 461-3331 or (416) 360-4200
Web: www.ffb.ca
Fax: (416) 360-0060
© Copyright by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society