Progression of visual field loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa of sporadic and autosomal recessive types.

PURPOSE

We examined the natural course of patients with retinitis pigmentosa of the eight sporadic and five autosomal recessive forms over 5 years.

METHODS

We measured the areas of the visual fields by Goldmann perimetry using a digitizer and a computer software.

RESULTS

The visual field of V-4 isopters in 4 sporadic cases was approximately 200 cm2 during 30 years after the initial examination, but decreased down to 40 cm2 in the next 10 years. The visual field was reduced to half the normal field in 3 autosomal recessive cases early below the age of 25 years. In 4 sporadic and 2 autosomal recessive cases, the inferior temporal visual field was the widest at the onset of the disease, but exhibited the most severe loss. The superior nasal area was the narrowest initially, and showed the mildest progression.

CONCLUSIONS

The visual field in retinitis pigmentosa is constricted age-dependently with severe loss of the inferior temporal visual area and mild damage to the superior nasal area.