Retinitis Pigmentosa (Chicken Black Disease)
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited condition in which the light-sensitive retinal layer of the eye progressively degenerates. It is a disease. If this disease is suspected, a visual field test should be performed to reveal visual field narrowness.
What are the symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa?
RP
The first symptoms of strong> usually appear in early childhood. Night vision decreases and the visual field may begin to narrow. Driving becomes dangerous, especially at night.As the retinal cells (rods) responsible for vision at dusk begin to deteriorate, night vision begins to decrease. In much more advanced stages, only a narrow central visual field remains. It is impossible to say how much visual field loss will occur over how much time. However, an idea can be obtained over time with tests and doctor's control.
RP: The striking findings in the retinal examination are primarily the dark pigmentation formed in the nerve layer that provides vision, called the retina. It attracts attention not in the central retina, but in the peripheral area (peripheral retina). As the disease progresses, this pigmentation image moves closer to the visual center. Other findings are pallor in the optic nerve and thinning of the retinal vessels.
Retinal image in retinitis pigmentosa
RP is a hereditary disease and can manifest itself through different hereditary transitions. Basically, the dominant or recessive gene is inherited.
In cases where the dominant gene is inherited, one of the parents has RP. > If there is, it means it will be seen in the child too. In patients with recessive genes, the disease may occur in the child, even if it is not in the parents, due to previous gene inheritance. It is accepted that approximately 1% of the society is a carrier of RP.
The prevalence of RP in the society is approximately 1 in 4000 people. is. While the disease usually occurs in the 40s in those with a dominant gene, it occurs in the 20s in those with a recessive gene. If there is a patient with RP in the family, other members of the family It is also recommended that patients undergo a retinal examination. RP may also occur with other hereditary systemic diseases. The most common of these is Usher Syndrome. In Usher Syndrome, RP is accompanied by deafness.
What is the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa?
RP is a disease that progresses at different rates depending on the genetically inherited types. While some types appear later and progress slowly, some types appear at an earlier age and progress rapidly. The treatments applied do not cure RP disease, but slow down the rate of progression of the disease.
The primary treatments used today are regular Vitamin A and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) under the supervision of a doctor. /strong> usage. Studies have shown that the course of the disease slows down with years of vitamin supplementation. Apart from this, some promising methods are being developed in the treatment of RP. One of these is gene therapy and the other is artificial retina implants. Such treatments are still in the experimental phase.
Gene therapy
In a paper published in June 2010, researchers used a microscopic-sized capsule to inject genes into target cells, the retina cells. They reported that they managed to deliver the treatment. In different studies, it has been reported that gene therapy is delivered to retina cells using nanoparticles and modified viruses.
It has been reported that light-sensitive algae developed in artificial environment(a type of algae) are applied to the eye in an experimental environment and retinal cells respond to light. .
However, all these treatments are still in the trial phase and have not been put into clinical use yet.
Artificial retina implants (microchips)
Retina and It is a treatment method aimed at stimulating the optic nerve. It should be emphasized that it is still in the testing phase. One of the projects being worked on in this regard is Argus II Prosthesis systems. It was applied experimentally to a total of 10-15 patients, and it was reported that the patients perceived the movement at least partially. The Argus II Prosthesis System has a digital camera mounted on glasses. The images in this camera are generated by electrical impulses. It is turned into a 1mm.x 1mm. It is transmitted to the microchip electrodes in its size. These electrodes act as damaged photoreceptors of the retina and transmit the electrical wave to the healthy optic nerve and from there to the brain. The brain converts this electrical message back into an image.
Argus II retina implant
A similar system is being developed by Retina Implant AG. It was applied experimentally to a total of 7 patients. It is stated that luminous shapes can be perceived by patients.
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