It is an eye disease in which there is damage to the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue located at the back of the eye.
This layer converts the luminous images into nerve signals and sends them to the brain.
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| Normal eye anatomy and eye affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa |
Causes:
Retinitis pigmentosa may be hereditary. It is a disorder that can be caused by several genetic defects. The main risk factor is a family history of retinitis pigmentosa.
Cells that control night vision (swabs) are more likely to be affected; however, in some cases, retinal cone cells are those that receive the most damage. The main sign of the disease is the presence of dark deposits in the retina.
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| What it causes |
Severe vision problems often do not occur before the beginning of adulthood.
This are some symptoms:
- Decreased night vision or when there is little light. The first signs may include having more difficulty moving in the dark.
- Loss of lateral vision, which causes "concentric narrowing of the visual field".
- Loss of central vision (in advanced cases). This will affect the ability to read.
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| Person's vision affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa |
Diagnosis:
It occurs at varying ages but generally starts from 10 to 20 years with a decrease in night vision, and in general the patient suffers from photophobia.
In a second moment there is a retraction of the visual field (vision in tunnel). Blind often reaches 40 years when the sticks are destroyed. The bottom of the eye shows a hyperpimentation of the periphery of the retina testimony of cell death.
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| Girl with Retinitis Pigmentosa disease |
Treatment:
There is no effective treatment for this condition but the use of sunglasses to protect the retina from ultraviolet light can help preserve vision.
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| Sunglasses can help to preserve vision |
A vitamin A supplement can slow the evolution of the disease. Also, an enriched Omega-3 regime slows the appearance of blindness.
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| Omega-3 can slow blindness |
Other treatments, such as microchip implants within the retina that act as a microscopic video camera, are in their preliminary stages of development.
These treatments can be used to treat blindness associated with retinitis pigmentosa and other serious eye conditions.
Webpage:
- https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinosi_pigment%C3%A0ria
- https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/001029.htm
Manuel Sallent Bonavia
