8 Practical Treatment Options for People with Retinitis Pigmentosa

Affecting more than 100,000 people in the United States, Retinitis Pigmentosa is a genetically transmitted disease that is currently without a cure. According to the Foundation Fighting Blindness "Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration. The cell-rich retina lines the back inside wall of the eye. It is responsible for capturing images from the visual field." In other words, those affected by RP will notice a gradual decline in their peripheral vision over their lifetime, with many cases ending in legal blindness.

RP Progression Varies

Because RP is a group of diseases, it can manifest differently depending on your genetic make-up and other factors. Some may find their case of RP progressing very slowly. Yet others experience a more severe progression losing most of their vision early in life.

While these extreme cases do occur, they tend to be the exception. Typically the person suffering from RP will see their vision most dramatically affected as they enter middle age, around the age of 40. In their early life they may notice that cannot see well in the dark. As they hit their early thirties, they may begin to lose peripheral vision and notice floaters in their field of vision. When that person begins to approach 40, they may lose most of their peripheral vision with central vision deteriorating as they move towards 50.

Cure versus Treatment

Unfortunately, as stated earlier there is no known cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa. The good news is that there have been tremendous strides in research over the past 10-15 years. We are seeing promising results particularly in the area of gene therapy. There are also several possible treatments that may help to preserve vision, extending the number of years that they have useful sight. This is especially relevant to those with a milder form of the disease and those who may be diagnosed while young. These advances provide a source of encouragement and hope to those waiting a cure.

While not a physician, I can offer advice based on first-hand experience and years of research about Retinitis Pigmentosa. I offer the following ideas that have helped me along the way:

RP Treatment Options

A. Wear sunglasses and avoid long periods of exposure to bright lights and sunshine. I wish I had known this earlier in life; I could have added years to my useful vision.

B. Avoid high doses of Vitamin E. Research has found that high doses of vitamin E may actually speed the progression of RP.

C. Reduce stress. There is current research investigating the effects of stress on RP. My subjective experience is that my vision is worse under stress.

D. Research has shown that high doses of vitamin A may actually slow down the progression of RP. I prefer using natural sources as opposed to high doses of synthetic Vitamin A, which can damage the liver.

E. Eat lots of fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, herring and other foods with high Omega 3 content. Research has found that people with high levels of Omega 3's in their blood experienced slower progression.

F. Stay healthy. Some consider RP to be a cardiovascular disease. It is always good to exercise, keep the weight in check, and control high blood pressure.

G. Get your share of sleep. I have found that my vision is much better after a good night's rest. The opposite is true when I lack sleep.

H. Drink grape juice and eat billberries, grapes, and blueberries. A good source of many eye-healthy vitamins and minerals.

Some folk also recommend staying away from foods that contain Monosodium glutamate (MSG) or the artificial sweetener aspartame. There are not many studies to substantiate this, but it is worth being aware of.

There will be a Cure for RP

While RP is a serious disease, I've learned that adding the stress of depression and anger to my already-heavy load is counter-productive. I've made a concerted effort to approach life with zeal and to commit myself to making every moment count. This attitude has helped. Through faith and a strong belief that a cure is around the corner, I encourage you to embrace every day. There is more to living than RP!

Sources:
Foundation Fighting Blindness- www.blindness.org
National Institute of Health- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001029.htm
All About Vision- http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/retinapigment.htm