The eye is an organ that
consists of tissues working together to convert the light reflected
off objects in the outside environment to electrical signals that are
sent via the optic nerve to the brain. The brain then interprets these
impulses and forms a picture that is interpreted as sight.
But like any other part of
the complex, finely tuned body - a breakdown at any point along this
pathway results in less than perfect vision or in some cases no sight
at all.
With retinitis pigmentosa,
an inherited retinal degenerative disease, it is the rods and cones
of the tissue at the back of the eye that are affected. These cells
form part of the retina and contain the light capturing cells necessary
for sight. Light passes through the cornea to the pupil, which dilates
according to the amount of light in the environment, to the lens, which
thickens or thins to bring the object into focus, through the middle
of the eye and onto the retina's rods and cones.
While rods are extremely
responsive to light and therefore play an important part in night vision,
cones are responsible for color (and therefore day vision). The rods
are more than ten times as numerous than the cones (120 million to 7
million) and are present everywhere but the fovea - which is cone rich.
Cones are scattered throughout the eye.
Retinitis pigmentosa may
begin as degeneration of either rods or cones. When the rods stop functioning,
the result is difficulties seeing in dim lights and eventual night blindness.
As the rods surrounding the fovea degenerate, a person with RP will
notice a loss of peripheral vision that may eventually result in so
called 'tunnel vision'. When cones cease functioning loss of color vision
and decrease in the sharpness of image results. This often causes difficulty
in reading.
An ophthalmologist can detect
irregularities in the eye's response to light with specialized equipment.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms see a specialist immediately.
There are many different types of degenerative retinal disorders and
many have similar symptoms.