RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA: EARLY DETECTION IS THE WAY TO GO

An annual eye check for early detection and management of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a group of rare congenital eye diseases is encouraged by the health ministry.

The degenerative genetic disease of the eye, is characterized by progressive vision loss, usually leading to blindness.

The disease affects the retinal tissues,and is also known to be genetic.

Generally, Retinitis Pigmentosa, is caused by changes in the genes that control the retinal cells. The genes can be passed from parents to children, thereby passing the condition to the next generation according to the ministry of health spokeperson, Dr Christopher

Nyanga. He adds that, although RP onset is from early childhood, it can be asymptomatic till young adulthood.

“Early signs include difficulty seeing at night, problems with adjusting to dim light, loss of peripheral vision and having tunnel vision,” he says.

Dr Nyanga says in Botswana, RP is quite rare and not common..

“The disease is not very common in Botswana as there are currently fewer people infected with this disease, and with no specific part of the country being the most affected,”he explains. He emphasizes that, since this is largely a genetic disease, it is quite difficult to avoid, which is why people should have at least annual eye checks for early detection and management. Further, there is currently no cure for RP,and usually low vision devices and rehabilitation are used to assist those affected. He also reiterates that, RP is a rare retinal disorder and those who have it would normally have at least one member of the family who has had it.

People can take plenty of Vitamin A rich foods to delay onset and progress once the disease manifests.

RP progresses differently for different people. Some may totally lose sight earlier than 30 years while others may reach old age with their residual sight. Dr Nyanga notes that

there is currently no eye specialist for RP in the country currently. “However, those with the condition are managed by our general ophthalmologists,” he shares.