● Conditions We Treat

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Integrative Support

Q: Is there a cure for retinitis pigmentosa?

No. LUXTURNA treats one genetic form, caused by variants in both copies of the RPE65 gene, and the FDA is reviewing MOGENRY, a gene therapy for adults with RP and severe vision loss whatever their gene; the company expects a decision in the first half of 2027. Neither restores normal vision.

Q: Does vitamin A help retinitis pigmentosa?

The evidence is uncertain. The National Eye Institute says it may help in common forms, while the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not currently recommend it. The dose studied, 15,000 IU a day, is above the NIH's 10,000 IU daily upper limit for adults, including in pregnancy. High intakes can harm the liver and cause birth defects, so only take vitamin A under your retina specialist's care.

What retinitis pigmentosa is, how it is inherited and diagnosed, which treatments are approved or in trials, what the vitamin A evidence shows, and where integrative care fits.

Published: July 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: October 18, 2026

Written by Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi, DAOM, Dipl. OM, L.Ac. · Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmad Nasir, MBBS, DOM (Ophthalmology)

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Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited eye diseases that slowly damage the light-sensing cells of the retina. It usually starts with trouble seeing at night, often in childhood or adolescence, followed by a gradual loss of side vision^1,2. RP affects about 1 in 3,500 to 1 in 4,000 people, or roughly 100,000 people in the United States^2,3. There is no cure¹. One gene therapy, LUXTURNA, is approved for inherited retinal disease caused by variants in both copies of one gene, RPE65⁶. The FDA is now reviewing a second gene therapy, designed to work whatever gene is involved, for adults with RP and severe vision loss, and two gene therapies for X-linked RP have reported late-stage results^22,24,28,29.

This page covers the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of RP, what helps today, which treatments are in clinical trials, what the evidence says about supplements, and where integrative care can — and cannot — fit alongside the care of your retina specialist.

Retinitis pigmentosa at a glance

What it is	A group of inherited diseases in which the retina's light-sensing cells stop working and die, usually starting with the rods^1,2
How common	About 1 in 3,500 to 1 in 4,000 people; roughly 100,000 in the U.S.^2,3
First symptom	Loss of night vision, usually starting in childhood or adolescence^1,2
Genes	Variants in more than 130 genes can cause RP²
Part of a syndrome	In 20 to 30 percent of people; Usher syndrome, which also affects hearing, is the most common²
Approved treatment	LUXTURNA, a gene therapy for people with variants in both copies of the RPE65 gene⁶
Under FDA review	MOGENRY (MCO-010), for adults with RP and severe vision loss, any gene; the company expects a decision in the first half of 2027^22,23
What helps everyone today	Treating complications such as cataract and retinal swelling, low vision rehabilitation, and regular eye exams^1,5

On this page

What is retinitis pigmentosa?
Symptoms
Causes and inheritance
Diagnosis
Treatment today
Vitamin A, fish oil and lutein
New treatments in clinical trials
Living with RP
Where integrative care fits
Frequently asked questions
Sources

What is retinitis pigmentosa?

RP is not one disease but a family of inherited retinal diseases that follow a similar pattern^1,2. The retina has two kinds of light-sensing cells. Rods work in dim light and give us side vision; cones work in daylight and give us sharp central and color vision. In most types of RP the rods fail first, which is why night vision and side vision go first. Central vision is affected later^1,2.

Which gene is involved shapes almost everything else: how RP is inherited in a family, how fast it tends to progress, and whether a gene-specific treatment or clinical trial is an option^3,5,6. That is why doctors often recommend genetic testing^1,5.

In 20 to 30 percent of people, RP is part of a syndrome that affects other parts of the body. The most common is Usher syndrome, which combines RP with hearing loss that starts early in life². Read more on our Usher syndrome page.

Symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa

The most common early symptom is loss of night vision, usually starting in childhood¹. Other symptoms include^1,4:

trouble seeing in dim light or at night
gradual loss of side (peripheral) vision, so that you bump into things or miss objects to the side
tunnel vision, as the field of vision narrows toward the center
sensitivity to bright light
loss of color vision
later, trouble reading or recognizing faces as central vision is affected

What does someone with retinitis pigmentosa see?

Early on, many people notice little in daylight but struggle in dim restaurants, at night or in cinemas. As the disease progresses, the field of vision shrinks from the edges inward, like looking through a tube. Some people can still read small print in good light while tripping over something on the floor beside them, which can confuse family and friends.

When to see an eye doctor

Book an eye exam if you or your child has unusual trouble seeing at night, bumps into things often, or has a family history of RP or Usher syndrome. Regular eye exams are especially important for children⁴.

What causes retinitis pigmentosa?

RP is caused by changes (variants) in genes that the retina needs to work normally^1,2. More than 130 genes are known to cause it². It can be inherited in three main ways³:

Autosomal recessive. Both parents carry one changed copy of the gene but usually see normally. Each of their children has a 1 in 4 (25 percent) chance of having RP.
Autosomal dominant. Usually one parent has RP. Each child has a 1 in 2 (50 percent) chance of inheriting it.
X-linked. The gene is on the X chromosome. A woman who carries the gene has a 50 percent chance of passing it to each child. Sons who inherit it develop RP. Daughters who inherit it become carriers, and some carriers also develop vision loss, usually milder. A man with X-linked RP passes the gene to all of his daughters, who become carriers, and to none of his sons^2,3.

Not everyone with RP has a family history of it⁵. Less commonly, changes that look like RP can be caused by some medicines, infections or eye injuries¹.

How retinitis pigmentosa is diagnosed

An eye doctor checks for RP as part of a dilated eye exam¹. To confirm it and track it over time, a retina specialist usually adds^1,5:

A visual field test, which maps your side vision.
Electroretinography (ERG), which measures how well the retina responds to light. Our guide to ERG testing for retinitis pigmentosa explains how to read the results.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a scan that shows the layers of the retina and picks up swelling in the macula.
Fundus autofluorescence (FAF), an image that shows where retinal cells have been damaged or lost.
Genetic testing, which identifies the gene involved¹.

Genetic testing decides whether LUXTURNA is an option⁶, and gene therapy trials enroll people with specific genes^28,29. Through its My Retina Tracker Genetic Testing Program, the Foundation Fighting Blindness lets any U.S. eye care professional order no-cost genetic testing for patients clinically diagnosed with an inherited retinal disease, and the program also offers genetic counseling¹¹.

Netra Eye Institute does not diagnose or monitor RP. We ask every patient to keep a retina specialist or inherited retinal disease clinic at the center of their care, and we work from their test results.

Retinitis pigmentosa treatment today

There is no cure for RP¹. These are the treatments and steps that help today:

Gene therapy for RPE65-related RP. LUXTURNA is approved by the FDA for people with confirmed variants in both copies of the RPE65 gene who still have viable retinal cells⁶. It is injected under the retina during eye surgery⁵. Because more than 130 genes can cause RP, most people with RP are not eligible^2,6.
Treat the complications. If a cataract develops, cataract surgery can help some patients⁵. About 1 in 4 people with RP develop swelling in the macula (cystoid macular edema), which blurs central vision; an eye drop or an oral medicine can help some people^5,7.
Low vision rehabilitation. Low vision aids and rehabilitation (training) programs can help¹. Vision aids, occupational therapy, special education and counseling are among the resources available⁴.
Regular eye exams. The National Eye Institute calls regular eye exams very important for people with RP¹.
Ask about clinical trials. For many people with RP, a trial is the only way to receive a treatment aimed at their specific gene.

Vitamin A, fish oil and lutein: what the evidence shows

Leading sources disagree, so it is worth knowing the details before you buy anything.

Vitamin A. The National Eye Institute says vitamin A may help slow vision loss in the common forms of RP, and warns that too much can cause liver problems¹. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says the evidence is not strong and that vitamin A supplements are not currently recommended⁵. A 2020 Cochrane review of four randomized trials with 944 participants concluded that it is uncertain whether vitamin A, fish oil or both help people with RP⁸.
Fish oil (DHA). The same Cochrane review found no clear evidence that DHA slows RP⁸, although the National Eye Institute lists fish oil as a supplement that may help¹.
Lutein. In a trial of 225 nonsmoking adults with RP who were all taking vitamin A, adding 12 mg of lutein a day did not slow decline on the main visual field measure over four years, but slowed loss on a second test of mid-peripheral vision, a borderline result⁹.

Important cautions. The vitamin A dose studied in RP trials, 15,000 IU a day of vitamin A palmitate⁹, is one and a half times the 10,000 IU (3,000 mcg RAE) daily upper limit for preformed vitamin A that the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists for all adults, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Limits for children and teenagers are lower¹⁰. Intakes above this limit can cause liver problems^1,10 and, in pregnancy, birth defects¹⁰. Extra vitamin A may also harm people with some other inherited retinal diseases; for Stargardt disease, the National Eye Institute advises against supplements above the daily recommended amount^5,12. Do not start vitamin A without your retina specialist, and only after genetic testing.

New treatments for retinitis pigmentosa in clinical trials

RP treatments in development fall into two groups. Gene-specific treatments replace or correct one faulty gene, so they only help people with that gene. Gene-agnostic treatments aim to protect or replace the retina's light-sensing ability whatever gene is involved. Your genetic test result tells you which trials you might qualify for.

Treatment	Who it is for	How it works	Stage (October 2026)	What the results show so far
MOGENRY (sonpiretigene isteparvovec, MCO-010; Nanoscope Therapeutics)	Adults with RP and severe vision loss, any gene; no genetic test needed^22,24	A one-time injection into the eye, given in the clinic, that makes surviving retinal cells sensitive to light²²	FDA accepted the application in September 2026; the company expects a decision in the first half of 2027^22,23	RESTORE trial: 27 adults whose treated eye saw worse than 20/1600, 9 per group, compared with a sham injection^24,39. After 52 weeks, both dose groups gained the equivalent of about 3 lines of acuity more than sham, on a computer-based test designed for very low vision²⁴. Improvement from baseline was still present at about four years²⁵. The most common side effects were inflammation inside the eye (about 44 percent) and raised eye pressure (about 39 percent), mild to moderate and treated with eye drops²⁴. Results are from company presentations and are not yet in a peer-reviewed journal
Laru-zova (laruparetigene zovaparvovec, AGTC-501; Beacon Therapeutics)	Males with X-linked RP caused by the RPGR gene	A one-time gene therapy injected under the retina during surgery, delivering a working copy of RPGR²⁸	Pivotal VISTA trial met its main goal in September 2026; the company plans to begin its FDA application later in 2026²⁸	85 males aged 12 to 48. After 12 months, 31% on the high dose and 24% on the low dose gained 15 or more letters on a dim-light eye chart, compared with none of the untreated group²⁸
Bota-vec (botaretigene sparoparvovec; MeiraGTx)	X-linked RP caused by the RPGR gene	A one-time gene therapy injected under the retina of both eyes during surgery^29,38	Phase 3 LUMEOS trial did not meet its main goal, a maze-walking test. The company still plans to apply for approval, citing other measures^29,30	About 95 patients, all treated in both eyes. 45% of treated patients gained more than 10 letters on a dim-light eye chart; the company did not report the figure for the untreated group. In a company analysis, 22 of 55 treated patients improved on two or more measures, compared with none of the untreated group²⁹
OCU400 (Ocugen)	Many forms of RP, including RHO-related RP; age 3 and older	A one-time gene therapy injected under the retina, delivering a gene that helps control many other genes in the light-sensing cells^26,27	Phase 3 liMeliGhT trial, 140 people, fully enrolled; first results expected in early 2027^26,27	No phase 3 results yet
N-acetylcysteine (NAC), NAC Attack trial (Johns Hopkins / National Eye Institute)	Adults aged 18 to 65 with RP, any gene	An oral antioxidant, taken twice a day^31,32	Phase 3, enrollment closed; about 485 people, each to be treated for 45 months; main results expected after May 2029³¹	No results yet. NAC is sold over the counter, but the trial's lead investigator advises against taking it outside the trial³²
NPI-001 (N-acetylcysteine amide; Nacuity Pharmaceuticals)	Adults with RP associated with Usher syndrome³³	An oral antioxidant related to NAC³³	Phase 3 trial recruiting about 80 people for 24 months³³	An earlier 49-person phase 1/2 trial in adults with Usher syndrome found no significant difference in its main measure, retinal sensitivity, after 2 years. The company reported more than 50 percent slower loss of light-sensing cells on retinal scans^36,37

The Argus II retinal implant is no longer made: its maker announced a phase-out in 2019 and wound down most of its operations in 2020³⁴.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness keeps a longer list of earlier-stage RP research³⁵.

How to find a clinical trial

Start with genetic testing, because gene therapy trials enroll people by gene^28,29; through the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a U.S. eye care professional can order it at no cost¹¹. Then search ClinicalTrials.gov for "retinitis pigmentosa" plus your gene, ask your retina specialist, and check the Foundation Fighting Blindness website. Tell any trial team about every supplement, herb and integrative treatment you use.

A warning about clinics selling stem cell treatments

In 2017, doctors reported three women with macular degeneration who were left with severe vision loss after a clinic in Florida injected cells processed from their own fat into both eyes^13,14. Be cautious if a clinic asks you to pay for an experimental treatment, offers to treat both eyes on the same day, or points to a ClinicalTrials.gov listing as proof that a treatment works. A listing only means a study was registered¹⁴.

Living with retinitis pigmentosa

Low vision and mobility. A low vision specialist can help with lighting, magnifiers, phone and computer settings, and glare control. Orientation and mobility specialists teach cane skills and safe travel.
Driving. Night driving is often the first to become difficult. Whether you can drive depends on your state's vision standards; your eye doctor can test you against them.
School and work. Students may qualify for classroom accommodations, and adults may be able to request workplace accommodations. Ask your eye doctor for a letter describing your vision.
Hearing. Because Usher syndrome combines RP with hearing loss, anyone with RP and hearing problems should mention it to their doctors².
Family. Relatives may want genetic counseling. The Foundation Fighting Blindness program offers counseling to the person tested, which can help explain what the results mean for the family¹¹.

Where integrative care fits

Netra Eye Institute offers integrative eye care: acupuncture, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. For RP we offer it alongside care from a retina specialist, never instead of it. Here is what the research does and does not show.

Approach	What has been studied in RP	What it found
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture	A pilot study of 12 adults without a comparison group¹⁵; a randomized trial of 21 people comparing electroacupuncture, transcorneal electrical stimulation and sham treatment, 7 per group¹⁶	In the pilot, 6 of 12 people had measurable improvements¹⁵. In the randomized trial, electroacupuncture increased blood flow in the retina compared with sham, and 2 of 7 people on electroacupuncture and 4 of 7 on TES had a measurable vision improvement, compared with none of 7 on sham. The study was too small to show whether electroacupuncture alone did better than sham¹⁶. Both studies were very small and short
Acupuncture across degenerative eye diseases	A 2025 review of 21 studies in glaucoma, macular degeneration, optic atrophy and RP¹⁷	Studies reported more "responders" with acupuncture, but pooled results showed no significant improvement in visual acuity, and sham-controlled trials did not show a clear effect¹⁷
Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES)	A randomized, sham-controlled trial of 52 people treated weekly for a year¹⁹	Well tolerated. Visual field area did not differ significantly from sham, but some retinal electrical responses improved¹⁹; a later after-the-fact analysis of the same trial, by authors including the device maker, linked higher current to slower field loss²⁰
Vitamin A, fish oil, lutein	See the section above^8,9	Benefit uncertain; vitamin A carries real risks

One further sham-controlled trial is registered: a 64-person acupuncture trial in China, whose protocol was published in 2021¹⁸; we could not find published results. The U.S. randomized trial described above is registered as NCT02086890, and its registry entry is still open, with completion listed for December 2027^16,21. Until larger trials report, no one can say whether acupuncture changes the course of RP.

What working with us looks like

We review every supplement, herbal formula and Ayurvedic or TCM product you take, including any vitamin A, for dose, safety and fit with your genetic diagnosis.
We ask for your latest visual field, OCT and genetic results so we work from the same information as your retina specialist.
If you are in, or hoping to join, a clinical trial, the trial comes first. Some RP trials restrict supplements: NAC Attack asks participants to take no supplements other than vitamin A³¹, and the NPI-001 trial excludes people taking NAC products³³. We adjust or pause anything the trial team asks us to.
Netra Restoration Therapy (NRT) is our individualized program that combines acupuncture, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, and botanical and Ayurvedic principles. NRT has not been tested in a controlled trial in RP. It is not a cure, and we do not promise that it will improve or preserve vision.

For more on our approach, read Holistic and natural treatment for retinitis pigmentosa and Ayurvedic treatment for retinitis pigmentosa.

Outlook

RP gets worse over time, but the pace varies from person to person and with the form of RP^3,5. Many people with RP are legally blind by age 40³, yet most do not become totally blind⁵. A gene therapy designed to work whatever gene is involved is now under FDA review, and gene therapies for X-linked RP have reported late-stage results^22,28,29.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cure for retinitis pigmentosa?

No¹. LUXTURNA treats one genetic form, caused by variants in both copies of the RPE65 gene⁶, and the FDA is reviewing MOGENRY, a gene therapy for adults with RP and severe vision loss whatever their gene; the company expects a decision in the first half of 2027^22,23. Neither restores normal vision.

Will I go blind from retinitis pigmentosa?

Many people with RP are legally blind by age 40, but most do not become totally blind^3,5. How fast vision changes varies from person to person and with the form of RP^3,5.

What are the first signs of retinitis pigmentosa?

Trouble seeing at night or in dim light, usually starting in childhood or adolescence, followed by gradual loss of side vision^1,2.

Is retinitis pigmentosa hereditary?

Yes. It can be inherited in a recessive, dominant or X-linked pattern, and more than 130 genes are involved^2,3. Some people have no known family history⁵.

What is the newest treatment for retinitis pigmentosa?

The FDA is reviewing MOGENRY (MCO-010), a one-time eye injection for adults with RP and severe vision loss, whatever gene is involved; the company expects a decision in the first half of 2027^22,23. For X-linked RP, the gene therapy laru-zova met its main goal in a pivotal trial in September 2026²⁸. Results for OCU400 are expected in early 2027²⁶.

Does vitamin A help retinitis pigmentosa?

The evidence is uncertain⁸. The National Eye Institute says it may help in common forms¹, while the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not currently recommend it⁵. The dose studied, 15,000 IU a day, is above the NIH's 10,000 IU daily upper limit for adults, including in pregnancy. High intakes can harm the liver and cause birth defects^1,9,10, so only take vitamin A under your retina specialist's care.

Can acupuncture help retinitis pigmentosa?

Small studies have reported changes in retinal blood flow and some vision tests^15,16, but there is no reliable evidence yet that acupuncture slows RP¹⁷. Netra offers acupuncture as supportive care alongside your retina specialist, without any promise about vision.

Is retinitis pigmentosa the same as Usher syndrome?

No. Usher syndrome is the most common syndrome that includes RP; it also causes hearing loss².

How do I join a retinitis pigmentosa clinical trial?

Get genetic testing first, because gene therapy trials select people by gene^28,29; through the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a U.S. eye care professional can order it at no cost¹¹. Then search ClinicalTrials.gov and ask your retina specialist.

Book an integrative consultation

Please bring your genetic test report, recent visual field and OCT results, and a list of every supplement you take. Call (732) 503-9999 or use our contact form.

Request a consultation

Sources

National Eye Institute. Retinitis pigmentosa. Updated 6 August 2025.
MedlinePlus Genetics. Retinitis pigmentosa.
Foundation Fighting Blindness. What is retinitis pigmentosa?
Cleveland Clinic. Retinitis pigmentosa.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is retinitis pigmentosa? 15 January 2026.
FDA. LUXTURNA prescribing information and product page.
Huckfeldt RM, et al. Management of cystoid macular edema in retinitis pigmentosa. Semin Ophthalmol. 2017.
Schwartz SG, et al. Vitamin A and fish oils for preventing the progression of retinitis pigmentosa. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020.
Berson EL, et al. Clinical trial of lutein in patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals.
Foundation Fighting Blindness. No-cost genetic testing.
National Eye Institute. Stargardt disease.
Kuriyan AE, et al. Vision loss after intravitreal injection of autologous "stem cells" for AMD. N Engl J Med. 2017.
Foundation Fighting Blindness. Unregulated stem cell therapy causes severe vision loss for three Florida women.
Bittner AK, et al. A pilot study of an acupuncture protocol to improve visual function in retinitis pigmentosa patients. Clin Exp Optom. 2014.
Bittner AK, et al. Randomized controlled trial of electro-stimulation therapies to modulate retinal blood flow and visual function in retinitis pigmentosa. Acta Ophthalmol. 2018.
Chen KY, et al. Is acupuncture a viable therapeutic strategy for degenerative eye diseases? Complement Ther Med. 2025.
Huang H, et al. Acupuncture for retinitis pigmentosa: study protocol for a randomised, sham-controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2021.
Schatz A, et al. Transcorneal electrical stimulation for patients with retinitis pigmentosa: a 1-year randomized, sham-controlled study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017.
Stett A, et al. Transcorneal electrical stimulation dose-dependently slows the visual field loss in retinitis pigmentosa. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023.
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02086890: electro-acupuncture and transcorneal electrical stimulation for RP.
Nanoscope Therapeutics. FDA acceptance of BLA for MOGENRY. 9 September 2026.
Nanoscope Therapeutics. PMDA acceptance and priority review in Japan. 1 October 2026.
Ophthalmology Times. FDA accepts BLA for MOGENRY in retinitis pigmentosa. 9 September 2026.
Ophthalmology Times. AAO 2026: MCO-010 sustains vision gains in RP through 4 years. 11 October 2026.
Ocugen. Business update, second quarter 2026. 6 August 2026.
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT06388200 (liMeliGhT).
Beacon Therapeutics. Positive topline data from the pivotal VISTA trial. 21 September 2026.
MeiraGTx. Acquisition of bota-vec for X-linked RP. 16 April 2026.
MeiraGTx. Second quarter 2026 results. 13 August 2026.
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05537220 (NAC Attack).
Foundation Fighting Blindness. Phase 3 clinical trial of NAC launched for RP patients. 12 April 2024.
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07710196 (NPI-001).
IEEE Spectrum. Their bionic eyes are now obsolete and unsupported. 15 February 2022.
Foundation Fighting Blindness. Retinitis pigmentosa research advances. 15 September 2026.
Ophthalmology Times. FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to Nacuity's NPI-001. 3 October 2025.
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04355689 (NPI-001 phase 1/2).
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04671433 (LUMEOS).
ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04945772 (RESTORE).

Written by Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi, DAOM, Dipl. OM, L.Ac. Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmad Nasir, MBBS, DOM (Ophthalmology). Last reviewed October 18, 2026. This page is for education and does not replace diagnosis, monitoring or treatment by your eye doctor.