Warning Signs Of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Harder To Do Detail Work

As retinitis pigmentosa progresses, patients may experience problems with their central vision that make it harder to do detail work. Detail work includes things like threading needles or reading a book. It's hard to make out and focus on the necessary visual details to complete these tasks. Central vision is the part of an individual's vision that recognizes details. Most patients with central vision loss end up having only their peripheral vision left, but in cases of retinitis pigmentosa, the central vision loss might occur after peripheral vision has already narrowed. Many individuals might not notice they have vision loss until they try to do detail work. Some also mistakenly believe their inability to read or focus on detailed tasks is just a natural part of getting older.

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Photophobia

Photophobia is the medical term ascribed to light sensitivity, which causes individuals to have an intolerance to light. In retinitis pigmentosa, it occurs because the light-sensing and light-filtering cells of the retina are breaking down. Light sources like an incandescent light, fluorescent light, or sunlight might all result in a feeling of discomfort or the need to close one's eyes or squint. Some people with light sensitivity also get headaches when they're in a room that's too brightly lit. Photophobia isn't a disease by itself, but it is a symptom of many eye diseases and possible infections, retinitis pigmentosa being just one of them. In addition, light sensitivity might be a symptom of non-eye-related diseases like migraines or illnesses caused by viruses.

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