| ISLE | Chapter 3
| Living with Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa
Macular degeneration is a disease that destroys the fovea and the area around it. The medical term macula refers to the center of the retina. The macula includes the fovea but is larger than it. The destruction of the macular region causes a blind spot in central vision. A patient will direct his or her point of gaze to a point in space and then promptly lose sight of it. Macular degeneration can occur in younger adults but is more common in older adults.
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited progressive degenerative disease of the retina that may lead to blindness. Over a long period of time, retinitis pigmentosa leads to degeneration and destruction of the photoreceptors, particularly rods at the periphery. Indeed, some patients will exhibit symptoms such as night blindness as children, whereas in other patients, the condition might not develop until adulthood (Hartong, Berson, & Dryja, 2006).
Go to the next two tabs to listen to an interview with a person who has macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. These two videos will describe two peoples own experiences. Other experiences vary but these capture many of the common elements.
Below is an inteview with a person who has macular degeneration.
Below is a video made by a person describing their own retinitis pigmentosa.