A Journey towards Improved Quality of Life of a Typist with Retinitis Pigmintosa

• Main Authors: Malab Sana Balouch (Author), Muhammad Shahbaz (Author), Mohammad Moaz Balouch (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: KARACHI MEDICAL AND DENTAL COLLEGE, 2022-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.58397/ashkmdc.v27i02.523; 1563-3241
• Keywords: retinitis pigmentosa, quality of life, low vision rehabilitation; Medicine (General); R5-920; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Annals of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Medical & Dental College, Vol 27, Iss 02 (2022)

Abstract: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited rod-cone degenerative pathologies that present clinically with similar signs and symptoms. Common fundus findings include bone-spicule pigment formation, attenuated blood vessels in the posterior pole and waxy optic nerve pallor. Symptoms mostly start with progressive night blindness, mid-peripheral visual field defects, and eventual tunnel vision. A 42 year old male patient, typist by profession presented to our clinic with complaints of decreased vision and reduced dark adaptation affecting his quality of life a lot. On examination, he was diagnosed as an advanced case of retinitis pigmentosa bilaterally and there was bilateral posterior sub capsular cataract. His quality of life was assessed by using a simplified version of the VFQ-25 questionnaire. After successful cataract surgery and low vision rehabilitation his quality of life was reassessed by using same questionnaire. He had a much more positive outlook towards his eyesight. Our case report reviews the life changing personalized low vision rehabilitation of a typist with retinitis pigmentosa. Key words: retinitis pigmentosa, quality of life, low vision rehabilitation