An inherited condition in which there is degeneration of the rods and cones of the retina at the back of both eyes. The 1st symptoms appear during or after adolescence and include night blindness. Tests show a ring-shaped area of blindness which, over some years, extends to destroy an increasing area of the visual field, though central vision is retained, often for many years. Opthalmoscopy reveals several masses of black pigment corresponding to the areas of visual loss. Affected individuals and their parents should have genetic counselling.
Retinitis pigmentosa |
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