Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

A) Figure showing the back of the eye (retinal fundus) in a patient with RP. The presence of black pigment flecks in the retina (bone spicules) is a hallmark sign of this condition. A narrowing of blood vessels and abnormalities of the optic nerve head are also associated findings. B) A visual scene as might be viewed by a patient with RP. (figure from  www.nei.nih.gov)

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited eye condition affecting initially the mid peripheral portion of the retina. Initially, a person with RP may complain that their vision is poor at night ("nightblindness"). Peripheral (or side) vision gradually decreases and eventually is lost while central vision is usually preserved until late stages of the disease. Clinically, the first observable sign of RP is a narrowing of the retinal arterioles (small arteries in the retina). Later, retinal pigment formations known as "bone spicules" and changes in the appearance of the optic nerve head are apparent. Some forms of retinitis pigmentosa can be associated with deafness, kidney disease, central nervous system and metabolic disorders, and chromosomal abnormalities.