What is the difference between macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa

A patient will direct his or her point of gaze to a point in space and then promptly lose sight of it. Macular degeneration can occur in younger adults but is more common in older adults. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited progressive degenerative disease of the retina that may lead to blindness.

Over a long period of time, retinitis pigmentosa leads to degeneration and destruction of the photoreceptors, particularly rods at the periphery. Early cellular dysfunction or spotting in the macula may go undetected until the disease is in advanced stages.

Retinitis pigmentosa RP is the most common inherited cause of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 60 worldwide. Around , people in the United States suffer some level of visual impairment from RP, and, of those, 20, are totally blind. These rare conditions are referred to as RP syndromes. In most cases, the inherited gene defect only affects the eyes.

However, sometimes other parts of the body are also affected. One example of this is Usher syndrome , where people develop loss of both hearing and sight. RP often runs in families and is often classified by the way it is passed from generation to generation.

Your eye health practitioner can refer you for genetic counselling. A genetic counsellor may be able to help you understand more about your RP and how it may affect you.

The type of inheritance can sometimes tell us who in the family has had the condition in the past. It might also provide information on the likely severity of the RP when it occurs. It could also indicate the chances of children being affected in the future.

You will usually initially notice that it is difficult to see in poor light, such as outdoors at dusk, or in a dimly lit room.

This is often referred to as night blindness. Most people find it takes their eyes up to 20 minutes to adapt to dim light. A second symptom is the loss of some of your peripheral side vision.

This means that when you look straight ahead, you become less able to see things either to the side, above or below. If RP becomes severe, the peripheral vision may be very limited, becoming tunnel vision. For some people, the loss of peripheral vision may mean it is no longer safe to drive. You are required by law to report a permanent or long-term vision condition that might affect your ability to drive. Your eye health practitioner will provide you with advice about your ability to drive safely as well as a letter or report to take to your relevant state motor vehicle authority.

In some RP-related conditions, central vision is affected first. You might find it difficult to read print or carry out detailed work at this time. In these types of RP, peripheral vision is affected in the later stages. Retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive condition, but the speed and pattern of deterioration of sight varies from one person to another. Most people with RP eventually have a very restricted visual field, leaving only a narrow tunnel of vision.

Many people with RP find the glare from bright lights and sunlight starts to become a problem. The retinal cells become less able to adapt to changing light levels and it becomes more difficult to use your vision when you move between a light and a dark room.

Most people first experience problems in low light levels and this may prompt them to see their optometrist or GP. An optometrist can examine your retina to detect RP. Normally, they would see the orange red of the healthy retina and the blood vessels that supply it. Accessed Feb. Complex retinal detachment: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy and giant retinal tears. American Society of Retina Specialists.

Retinal tears. Evaluation of the ophthalmologic patient. Merck Manual Professional Version. Have AMD? Save your sight with an Amsler grid. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Flaxel CJ, et al. Age-related macular degeneration preferred practice pattern —