There
are many inherited retinal diseases. These disorders
often affect the macula which is the part of the
retina responsible for sharp central vision used
for reading and driving.
These diseases are characterized by being familial,
bilateral, and often symmetrical. They can cause
severe vision loss and are often slowly progressive.
Other hereditary diseases cause a more generalized
destruction of the entire retina. Again, these
diseases are familial, mostly bilateral and slowly
progressive. Retinitis Pigmentosa is the most widely
known of the latter group.
While there are visual aids to help people with
these diseases, there is, at this point, no satisfactory
treatment of the diseases themselves. |
