Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa includes a group of progressive retinal degenerative diseases that affect the structure and function of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. Secondarily to the loss of photoreceptors, the rest of the retinal cells are affected, the process resulting in generalized retinal atrophy. This is a disease of progressive course with onset at childhood to adulthood depending on its mode of inheritance. In its early stages peripheral vision is affected with parallel loss of night vision. Later the cones become affected, resulting in loss of central vision. The use of animal model let us to know the course of retinal cells degeneration and the study effects of different therapeutic approaches.