Retinitis pigmentosa is a relatively rare genetic eye condition that often leads to blindness. This condition damages the back lining of the eye, called the retina, a light-sensitive tissue that plays a vital role in your vision. Once damage occurs, doctors cannot reverse retinal damage. Since retinitis pigmentosa is linked to genetics, you cannot prevent the condition. However, certain vitamins and nutrients may help slow down retinal damage.
Symptoms
Retinitis pigmentosa damages the cells in the retina, and this slow, progressive damage will result in vision changes. In the early stages of the disease, a person may experience difficulty seeing at night or in poor lighting. Some people also experience loss of side vision. Advanced damage from retinitis pigmentosa may result in loss of central vision, the vision used for reading, driving and other daily activities.
Vitamin A
High doses of vitamin A may help slow down the retinal damage from retinitis pigmentosa, explains the Foundation Fighting Blindness. For people without retinitis pigmentosa, the recommended daily intake of vitamin A varies depending on age, sex and whether a woman is pregnant or lactating. Men typically have a recommended intake of 3,000 IU and women require around 2,300 IU. Lactating and pregnant women require more.
After a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa, an eye doctor may recommend increasing vitamin A intake to 15,000 IU each day, reports the Foundation Fighting Blindness. This increase should occur only under the care and recommendation of a health care provider to ensure that this high vitamin A intake does not cause adverse effects.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
In addition to vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in protecting the retina from the damage caused by retinitis pigmentosa. Simply eating fish that contains omega-3 fatty acids twice weekly may help the retina and work to preserve vision, explains the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Before making changes to diet or to supplements, discuss the changes with an eye doctor or health provider.
Vitamin E Warnings
A high intake of vitamin E may increase the rate of retinal damage from retinitis pigmentosa, reports the Foundation Fighting Blindness. To ensure adequate intake of necessary nutrients, always discuss your diet, supplements and health needs with your doctor or eye doctor. She will help determine your appropriate nutritional intake.
Considerations
Vitamin A and omega-3 may offer benefits to some people with the condition, but retinitis pigmentosa still requires care from an eye doctor or specialist. An eye doctor will monitor the health of the retina and watch for signs of other conditions that may affect vision or increase the rate of damage to the retina, explains the Cleveland Clinic. As well, always discuss changes to diet or supplement use with a health provider to ensure that these changes will not interfere with medications, treatments or health conditions.
