What are the symptoms of RP?
One of the earliest symptoms of RP is ‘night blindness’ where there is difficulty seeing at night and in dimly lit places. This is accompanied by a progressive loss of peripheral vision (side, tipper and lower), leading to ‘tunnel vision’. Frequently, in time, central vision also deteriorates. Blindness is common. RP is the leading cause of youth blindness in Australia and is second only to diabetes as a cause of blindness in the working-age population. What causes RP? It is the death of photoreceptor cells ill the retina which is responsible for the symptoms of RP. This is caused by a defective gene which fails to have the essential balance of proteins produced to keep photo receptor cells healthy. So far research scientists have discovered over 30 defective genes causing forms of RP. Is RP inherited? Retinitis Pigmentosa is inherited through any one of three main genetic pathways. Firstly, the recessive type of RP is the most common.
Tom Tarrant: “I don’t ever remember seeing in the dark. I just don’t know what that’s like. I remember Halloween when I was a little boy, walking into poles.” RP symptoms can vary. In a person with classic or typical RP, night vision and peripheral (or side) vision will be affected initially. Night blindness is one of the earliest and most frequent symptoms of RP, and it refers to difficulty seeing not only at night but also in dimly lit places, such as restaurants and movie theaters. The loss of peripheral vision is often called “tunnel vision.” If you imagine peering down a tunnel, able only to see what is in front of you and nothing to the side, this is what it is like to lose peripheral vision. As vision loss progresses, the “tunnel” becomes more and more narrow. In the later stages, some patients may also lose central vision. Some cases of RP do not follow the classic symptoms of the disease. These patients may instead first experience some loss of central vision and color percept
