What are the symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa?

The retina contains two types of cells that gather light: rods and cones. Rods form around the outside ring of the retina and are active in dim light. Cones, on the other hand, are in the centre of the retina and aid in the detection of colour and fine detail.

Because both cell types are affected, RP causes a variety of symptoms. Among them are the following:

• Night blindness - In most cases, the early symptoms are difficulty seeing at night and loss of peripheral vision. Cones have a greater impact on rods. A person will first notice that it takes much longer for the eyes to adjust to dark spaces, such as walking from a well-lit room to a poorly lit room.
• Tunnel vision - The gradual loss of rods leads to the loss of cones, causing people to lose their visual field. A person may begin to bump into objects as they are not able to see items that are below or around them without turning their head.
• Loss of central vision and colour blindness - In the later stages, people will struggle to perform tasks due to limited vision and inability to distinguish colours.
• Photophobia and photopsia - Some people may become irritated by bright lights or see flashes of light that shimmer and blink.

How is Retinitis Pigmentosa diagnosed

At EYECENTRIC in Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre, we take great care in diagnosing and treating all eye disorders. Our top ophthalmologists will run several tests to accurately diagnose your condition.

• Ophthalmoscope - An ophthalmologist will place eye drops in your eyes and use a handheld tool to examine your retina for unusual dark spots.
• Visual field test - Patients will be required to look through a special machine that displays a series of images with a moving dot of light. The field test, performed under the supervision of a clinician, will help measure your side vision and identify any developing blind spots.
• Genetic testing - For a genetic diagnosis, our eye doctors may perform a DNA test. This aids in understanding the progression of the specific form of the disorder, the severity of the disease, and determining whether gene therapy is beneficial.
• Electroretinography/electroretinogram - This test measures the electrical activity in the retina as well as how well the retina responds to light. High-frequency sound waves are used to create detailed images of your eye, allowing our BTMC EYECENTRIC specialist to examine your eye socket.
• Determination of colour deficiency - Your ophthalmologist may assess your ability to recognise multicoloured dot patterns.

How do I manage Retinitis Pigmentosa?

There is currently no cure or treatment available to prevent the spread of RP. However, people with RP can use low vision aids and seek therapy to help them cope with the condition.

Special lenses that magnify central vision, allowing the user to see a larger visual field, are among the tools available on the market. The lenses may also help to reduce glare.

Affected children are usually advised to seek the assistance of orientation and mobility specialists, occupational therapists, and low-vision therapists.

At EYECENTRIC located in Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC), we have such professionals who can help patients learn how to use a cane properly and teach scanning techniques so that people can maximise their remaining vision. It is also a good idea for parents to meet with their children's teachers to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to accommodate the child.