Light of Hope for People Suffering with Retinitis Pigmentosa
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Retinitis Pigmentosa is the name for a group of inherited eye diseases characterized by poor night vision and a slow loss of side (peripheral) vision.  The disorder may caused by defects in a number of different genes, which result in progressive degeneration of the retina.”

 

Such symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa include light sensitivity, a reduction in visual acuity, night blindness, and a gradual reduction in the visual field.  Additionally, the visual acuity of persons with retinitis pigmentosa ranges from 20/20 to no light perception, and acuity is generally affected significantly only in the latter stages of the disease according to the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 

 

To better understand how retinitis pigmentosa damages the eye, think of the eye itself like the lens of a camera; where the eye is a light sensing system with a photoreceptive medium like the film (the retina).  The pupil lets light in like the aperture of a camera – the smaller the pupil, the better the focus.  The retina has two types of photoreceptors (cones and rods) that send a signal to the brain creating the “picture” your eye sees.



 Cones = color vision/photopic lumens
 Rods = night vision/ contrast/ scotopic lumens


While retinitis pigmentosa damages the rods and cones within the retina that sense light; there are lamps that are useful for patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa.


OttLite’s exclusive Better Vision products sheds some “light” for low vision patients by offering a unique solution to this problem of people facing retinitis pigmentosa.  The 508 Technology that OttLite provides is expertly engineered to bring the quality of High Definition Natural Lighting™ indoors, providing the ideal balance of brightness and contrast. The result is providing precise balance of color vision and night vision to the photopic and scotopic lumens within the eye.  This stimulates the pupil of people suffering with retinitis pigmentosa to create better focus, reduce glare, eyestrain, headaches, and helps the eye to relax. 


Such lamps specifically for low vision patients can help one to read longer while seeing fine print and details more clearly and accurately; as well as enjoying vibrant colors through crafting, painting or even cooking.


OttLite's proven 508 technology is ideally suited for patients suffering with retinitis pigmentosa; providing exactly the right spectrum and brightness to maximize one’s eyesight and overall quality of life.