Retinitis Pigmentosa: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis Pigmentosa, commonly known as night blindness in the general population, is an eye condition that affects vision. The eyes' response to light rays changes, making it difficult for the patient to see light. People who develop Retinitis Pigmentosa may gradually lose their vision. However, this disease does not result in complete blindness.

What is Retinitis Pigmentosa (Night Blindness)?

It is an eye disease that occurs when the retina portion of the eye is damaged and affects visual function. Although this disease is hereditary, it is passed down from parents to children.

What Causes Retinitis Pigmentosa?

Although the exact causes of this disease are not clearly known, it is known to be hereditary. This disease, which is passed from mother or father to children, is transmitted gene to gene.

Although there is no definitive cure for this disease, the treatments that can be performed are designed solely to improve the patient's quality of life.

What are the Symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa?

Like all diseases, this disease has distinct symptoms. We can list the symptoms of this disease, commonly known as night blindness among the general population, as follows for you.

• One of the first symptoms that appears in people who develop night blindness is loss of night vision. While vision during the day proceeds normally, the patient cannot see anything at night. In movie theaters and similar dark or dim environments, the field of vision is reduced. Driving at night for these individuals is extremely dangerous.
• Another symptom is loss of peripheral vision. It is also called tunnel vision in common parlance. Generally, the lower and side areas cannot be seen. For this reason, bumping into objects on the ground or at the sides is inevitable.
• In some stages, the patient cannot perform central vision functions in situations such as sewing or reading.
• According to some patients' reports, people experience problems with color vision.

If one or more of the symptoms we have listed above are present in you, it is necessary to consult with a specialist doctor. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you can contact us for an appointment and information.

How is Retinitis Pigmentosa Diagnosed?

This disease is diagnosed by doctors who are specialists in this field. In order to diagnose whether a person has developed night blindness disease, a visual field test should be performed. With this test applied by the doctor, the doctor examines the pigment cells in the person's eyes.

As with other diseases, early diagnosis is very important in this disease as well. Since there is no definitive cure for this disease, research on its treatment is currently ongoing at full speed. All treatments to be applied are designed to make the patient's life easier.

For this reason, the person must definitely have regular eye check-ups, and in case of an adverse situation, they should remain in contact with their doctor and begin the treatment process.

Does Night Blindness Pass to Children?

Retinitis Pigmentosa, commonly known as night blindness among the general population, is one of the leading diseases that negatively affect a person's life. One of the most important aspects of our daily life is vision. Since we do almost everything while seeing, vision defects deeply affect the person and make life more difficult.

The most important cause of this disease's occurrence is that it is hereditary. In this disease, which has a hereditary characteristic, if it exists in the mother or father, night blindness disease is also passed on to children.

What is Good for Night Blindness?

Night blindness does not have a specific cause and cure. For this reason, it is possible to intervene with many external factors in order to prevent its occurrence and slow its progression.

In order to reduce the risk of developing this disease, it is necessary to eat foods rich in Vitamin A, which is beneficial for the eyes. These vitamins are found in abundance in the following foods.

• Melon
• Sweet potato
• Carrot
• Pumpkin
• Mango and similar foods contain large amounts of Vitamin A. Additionally, Vitamin A is also abundantly found in green leafy foods. These are:
• Spinach and kale
• Furthermore, milk and eggs also contain large amounts of Vitamin A.

Has a Cure Been Found for Night Blindness?

Unfortunately, with current technology, no cure has been found for night blindness disease. Research aimed at treatment is ongoing.

Genetic Testing for Retinitis Pigmentosa and Its Cost in Turkey

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic disorder that affects the retina and leads to progressive vision loss. Genetic tests play an important role in diagnosing RP and identifying specific gene mutations that cause the disease. The cost of genetic testing for retinitis pigmentosa in Turkey may vary depending on various factors.

Since prices differ from hospital to hospital, it would not be correct to specify an exact amount. The type of genetic test applied, such as targeted gene sequencing or whole exome sequencing, can affect the price. Additionally, the laboratory performing the test and the required level of expertise are among the factors affecting the cost.

It is important to note that genetic tests for RP in Turkey are generally not covered by health insurance. For this reason, individuals who wish to have the test performed may need to cover the cost themselves. However, some specialized clinics and research institutions may offer discounted prices or support programs to make genetic testing more accessible.

If you suspect retinitis pigmentosa in yourself or a family member, it is recommended that you consult a genetic counselor or ophthalmologist who can guide you on the most appropriate testing options and related costs.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (Night Blindness) Treatment Costs in Turkey

Although night blindness disease does not have a definitive cure, treatments are performed in Turkey to slow its progression and minimize its effects.

Particularly in treatment processes conducted with fully equipped hospitals and specialist doctors, Turkey and Turkish doctors are preferred by foreigners.

Doctors who are experts in their field, experienced, skilled, and affable approach their patients with compassion while providing clear, understandable, and prompt answers to their questions. Due to these reasons, taking into account affordable treatment options, Turkey is preferred for the treatment process.

If you would like to learn more about night blindness disease and discuss prices, you can contact us.