Symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa

The onset of symptoms is variable but usually begins between the ages of 10 and 30, although some changes may become apparent in childhood. In one type of RP, Leber congenital amaurosis, children are severely visually impaired at birth or in early infancy. By contrast, other types of RP may only show symptoms late in life. In the more common types of RP, a person will first notice visual problems at dusk or in poor light, so-called night blindness, and also a gradual reduction in the field of vision, loss of the outer edges of vision, resulting in a tendency to miss things or trip over things. At an early stage the central vision is unaffected. As the outer edges of the field of vision gradually disappear, the RP sufferer is left with the condition commonly referred to as "tunnel vision" (Figure 6a, Figure 6b, Figure 7 and Figure 8). Many people retain this central tunnel of useful vision until quite late in life, thereby being able to recognise faces and continue reading.