Retinitis Pigmentosa

The typical symptoms include decreased night vision and peripheral vision, usually starting in the first or second decade of life. Marked loss of vision occurs over many years but may develop slowly. The diagnosis is made by a thorough eye examination and a special test called an electroretinogram, or "ERG".

Retinitis pigmentosa often runs in families. The disorder can be caused by a number of genetic defects.

There are multiple genes that, when mutated, can produce the retinitis pigmentosa phenotype. In 1989, a mutation of the gene for rhodopsin, a pigment that plays an essential part in the visual transduction cascade enabling vision in low-light conditions, was identified. Since then, more than 100 mutations have been found in this gene, accounting for 15% of all types of retinal degeneration. Most of those mutations are missense mutations that are generally inherited in a dominant manner.

Although considered incurable, the progression of the disease can be reduced by the daily intake of 15000 IU (equivalent to 4.5 mg) of vitamin A palmitate.[13] Recent studies have shown that proper vitamin A supplementation can postpone blindness by up to 10 years. Other studies have shown supplementing with nutrients such omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, lutein, vitamins E, C and alpha lipoic acid can help preserve vision.

Future treatments may involve retinal transplants, artificial retinal implants, gene therapy, stem cells, nutritional supplements, and/or drug therapies.

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in cultivating and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

• The Vision Diet as recommended in Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa, and offers advice on nutrients, diet, exercise and juicing instructions specific to each eye condition, plus much more.
• Daily Juicing (preferably all organic). Our diabetic retinopathy recipe includes ginger, garlic, leeks, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, spinach, apples, grapes, raspberries, lemon, chlorophyll, wheat grasses (not too much fruit). See more information on juicing.
• Reduce or eliminate drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (foods labeled as "diet") and man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil).
• Eliminate deep fat fried foods
• Avoid monosodium glutanate (MSG), which is used as a flavor enhancer, because it is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22).
• Limit your alcohol consumption to one glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).
• Eliminate smoking. Among other things, smoking produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
• Supplement your diet with an organic green drink daily such as Nanogreens
• Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription) as much as possible. John R. Heckenlively, MD, lists chloroquine ridazine (Mellaril), stelazine, chlorpromazine, indomethacin and tamoxifen (an anti-cancer drug) as suspicious agents for the onset of retinal pigment disorders (Retinitis Pigmentosa, J.B. Lippincott, 1988). Make sure to work closely with your doctor.
• Exercise daily. Be sure to get at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
• Managing your emotional health is very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life's problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, walks in the woods or prayer on a daily basis.