Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) typically begins with the degeneration of rods in peripheral areas of the retina. This causes night blindness and affects peripheral vision, which results in "tunnel vision" (like looking at things through a key hole).

RP is a progressive disease, people with this condition gradually lose their eyesight over several years or even decades. Blindness often occurs in middle age. RP is a hereditary disease that can be inherited through autosomal recessive as well as autosomal dominant and x (gender-linked) chromosomes.

With an incidence of 1:3000 to 1:4000 amongst the population, Retinitis Pigmentos is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the working population (age 20-60).