Retinis Pigmentosa – Cause, Symptoms, Treatment

by Administrator 21. December 2010 13:13

Retinis Pigmentosa is a dangerous disease that affects the eyes in such a way so as to significantly reduce the vision of the affected person. It targets the cells that are sensitive to light and can alter the ability of a person to see in the dark. This disease can have a changing influence on the normal functioning of a person as in its advanced stages; a person may not be able to even recognize other people and may also have difficulty in other motor skills like driving, reading, etc. This crippling disease may also sometimes cause irreversible hearing loss. So, it is very important to be informed about this disease so that you can take the requisite measures to keep yourself safe.

Causes: A large part of the population today suffers from Retinis Pigmentosa. There are no specific causes for this disease and not much can be done to prevent it as it is a hereditary ailment. The genetic factors inherent in a person can contain the elements responsible for this disease. Sometimes, the parents of the patient may not even have Retinis Pigmentosa but may just be the genetic carriers. It is wise to get tested for the same and then make a decision about having a child who may possibly be afflicted by this disease.

Symptoms: There are certain early warning signs that can help determine the onset of this disease. It is very important to catch them early so that treatment can be started as soon as possible. The sooner that treatment is administered, the better chances a patient has of recovering from it and not losing their eyesight permanently. You must watch out for the following signs and head to the nearest eye doctor as soon as you experience any of them:

  1. You may only start to see very small areas with your eyes and the vision from the sides of your eyes i.e. peripheral vision may deteriorate.
  2. You may find it increasingly difficult to see clearly at night time or in the darkness.

Treatment: There is no specific sure-shot treatment for this disease. However, recent advancements in the medical field have resulted in lots of breakthrough, experimental treatments that have been known to show positive results in lots of patients. Some of them include alteration of proteins that are responsible for blindness, use of nano-particles, a new type of gene therapy to get rid of the root cause, etc. The course of treatment depends on your personal choice.

For more information on various eye related diseases, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541. 

Eye Doctor Harker Heights - Eye Doctor Killeen 

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