From the Research
Retinitis pigmentosa patients should be managed with a focus on slowing progression and maximizing remaining vision, and the current standard of care involves regular follow-up, management of associated ocular pathology, and genetic counseling, as stated in the most recent study 1. The management of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a complex process that requires a multidisciplinary approach.
- The disease is characterized by the degeneration of rod photoreceptors, followed by the degeneration of cone photoreceptors, leading to progressive visual loss 2.
- The current standard of care for RP involves regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist specializing in retinal diseases, typically every 6-12 months, to monitor disease progression and manage associated ocular pathology such as macular edema and cataracts 1.
- Genetic counseling is also recommended for family planning purposes, as the condition is hereditary with various inheritance patterns (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked) 1.
- Emerging treatments, including gene therapy, visual prostheses, and stem cell therapy, have shown promise, but are not yet widely used and are limited to specific cases or still experimental 1.
- Low vision aids, such as magnifiers, high-contrast reading materials, and specialized computer software, can help maintain independence and improve quality of life for patients with RP.
- While vitamin A palmitate supplementation (15,000 IU daily) may slow retinal degeneration in some patients, its effectiveness is still uncertain, and patients should be monitored by a physician due to potential liver toxicity 3.
- Patients should also wear sunglasses outdoors to protect retinal cells from UV damage.
- The disease typically begins with night blindness, followed by peripheral vision loss creating "tunnel vision," and may eventually affect central vision, though the rate of progression varies significantly between individuals 2.