It is a term which is used for a group of eye diseases which can lead to loss of sight. This is a rare disorder which is passed from parent to child. There are some studies in which are estimated that only 1 out of every 4,000 people get it. Also, it is noticed that about half of all people who have retinitis pigmentosa have a family member who also have this condition. Difficulty seeing at night and a loss of peripheral vision are the most common symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa. When someone has retinitis pigmentosa, then photoreceptors progressively lose their function. [1]
There are more than 60 different genes which can cause different types of retinitis pigmentosa. There are three different ways in which parents can pass the problem genes on their children and they are X – linked RP, autosomal dominant RP and autosomal recessive RP. Your doctor will make special tests to see if you have retinitis pigmentosa and give you the proper diagnosis. The retinitis pigmentosa worsens over time, but most patients retain at least partial vision and the complete blindness is rare.
There are many people who are diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when they are doing routine eye exam and usually this is happening when the patient is 10 years old. Usually, the symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa do not develop until adolescence. There is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa but natural remedies can help you to manage with its symptoms. You need to talk with your doctor if you suffer from retinitis pigmentosa before you start using some of the below mentioned home remedies. Here are some home remedies for retinitis pigmentosa:
Bilberry help retinitis pigmentosa
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This is a fruit which is related to wild blueberries and huckleberries that are found in North America. Bilberry is used in the European traditional medicine since the 12th In the American groceries, fresh bilberries are not commonly found but they are often used to make syrups, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, cobblers, pies and jams. There are some laboratory studies in which are said that bilberry can be used as a home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa but until studies in humans are done, this home remedy is not considered as safe [2].
If you have decided to use bilberry as your home remedy, then talk with your doctor about the recommended dosage and suitability. The safety and long – term side effects of bilberry are not known. If you are allergic to bilberry, anthocyanosides (this is component of bilberry) or to plants in the Ericaeae family, then you should not use bilberry as your home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. You should not consume the bilberry leaves. If you have diabetes or bleeding disorders, then you should talk with your doctor if you should use it as your home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa.
Vitamin E
This vitamin exists in 8 different forms – alpha; beta; gamma and delta tocopherol; and alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocotrienol. It is known that alpha – tocopherol is most active in people. You should talk with your doctor if you suffer from retinitis pigmentosa before you start using Vitamin E as your home remedy because in some studies is said that this vitamin does not slow the visual decline [3]. Also, this vitamin can be associated with rapid loss of visual acuity but this is not proven. You should avoid taking large doses of Vitamin E.
Acupuncture treat retinitis pigmentosa
There are some studies in which are said that people who have retinitis pigmentosa can get benefits from the usage of acupuncture as their natural treatment because it can help to improve the eyesight. The retinitis pigmentosa is a generally inherited condition and it can lead to blindness. It has been noticed that acupuncture has improved the overall eyesight and it has improved problems of dark to light adaptation and night blindness.
It is noticed that patients who received ten minute acupuncture treatment in a period of two weeks have improved the vision in both eyes after only one week of acupuncture treatment and these results lasted from ten to twelve months. Also, it was noticed that the dark adaptation has increased significantly in the subjects. The ability to see in darkened regions and night vision have improved significantly in subjects.
Also, in other people was noticed an expansion of visibility within large visual field. Doctors have said that acupuncture has a minimal risk for people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa if it is done by a trained acupuncturist. You should know that acupuncture needles do not go into the eyes. The closest points are in the cheekbone area and eyebrow area. [4]
Wear sunglasses
There are some studies in which are shown that wearing sunglasses can help to protect your eyes from the UV rays and this can help you to protect your vision [5]. Also, it is noticed that many patients experience glare when they are exposed to bright lights. You can wear special glasses in which a light amber filter is added so it can help you to improve the tolerance of bright lights.
DHA
We know that DHA is an Omega – 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and also it is acting as antioxidant agent. There are some studies in which are said that DHA can help in the natural treatment of retinitis pigmentosa but also there are other studies which do not support this claim. There should be done a lot more studies in the future to approve or disapprove the usage of DHA as a home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. [6]
Vitamin A
There are some studies in which are said that high doses of Vitamin A (about 15,000 IU) can help to slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa in some people. But there should be done a lot more studies in the future to tell if this home remedy is really effective for retinitis pigmentosa. Usually, doctors are recommending 900 micrograms for adult men and 700 micrograms for adult women. [6]
There have been some recent studies in which are said that Vitamin A in the palmitate form is effective home remedy for people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa and this is a reason why doctors are recommending this natural treatment. You should know that Vitamin A toxicity can happen if you take this home remedy in high doses. The excessive amounts of Vitamin A can lead to clumsiness, liver problems, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, vomiting and nausea. Also, the excessive amount of this home remedy can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
There are some studies in which are said that when Vitamin A is taken in the recommended dosages, then it is safe for pregnant women. You should be careful if you are breastfeeding because the effects of this home remedy are not well studied on babies. If you are allergic to Vitamin A, then you should avoid its usage. It is noticed that smokers who consume Vitamin A and alcohol have increased risk of getting heart disease and lung cancer so they should not use this home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. If you suffer from alcoholism or liver disease, then you should use it with caution.
Omega – 3 fatty acids
These fatty acids are considered as safe when they are taken in doses which do not exceed RDA. You should not consume Omega – 3 fatty acids as your home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa if you are allergic to linolenic acid, fish, nuts or products which have Omega – 3 fatty acids that come from nuts and fish. You should avoid Omega – 3 fatty acids during active bleeding. If you suffer from low blood pressure, diabetes, bleeding disorders or if you are taking supplements, herbs or drugs to treat these conditions, then you should not use Omega – 3 fatty acids as your home remedy for retinitis pigmentosa. You should use cautiously if you are going to have a surgery.
Medical marijuana
The medical marijuana is used all around the world. The effects of medical marijuana on the function of the retina and the visual system are not investigated thoroughly. There are some studies in which are said that cannabinoids which are present in the medical marijuana can be beneficial in preventing certain degenerative diseases of the retina. Also, it is said that cannabinoids can delay the retinal degeneration in people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa. There should be done a lot more studies in the future to identify the exact mechanism by which these components can delay the vision loss in people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa. [7]
References:
[1] National Eye Institute. Retinitis pigmentosa. 2019. Retrieved from www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinitis-pigmentosa
[2] Osada H, Okamoto T, Kawashima H, et al. Neuroprotective effect of bilberry extract in a murine model of photo-stressed retina. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0178627.
[3] Natural Standard. The research behind Vitamin E. Natural Medicine Journal. 2011;3(12). Retrieved from www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2011-12/research-behind-vitamin-e
[4] Fereydouni F, Qasemi V, Moradian S, Tabatabaee S. Can acupuncture therapy help patients with retinitis-pigmentosa? Journal of Current Ophthalmology. 2017;29(4):321–3.
[5] Behar-Cohen F, Baillet G, de Ayguavives T, et al. Ultraviolet damage to the eye revisited: eye-sun protection factor (E-SPF®), a new ultraviolet protection label for eyewear. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2014;8:87–104.
[6] Rayapudi S, Schwartz SG, Wang X, Chavis P. Vitamin A and fish oils for retinitis pigmentosa. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013;12:CD008428.
[7] Stuart H. Marijuana may prevent blindness in retinitis pigmentosa sufferers. Huffpost. 2014. Retrieved from www.huffpost.com/entry/marijuana-blindness-prevent-study-retinitis-pigmentosis_n_4833183
