Deafness associated with RP in a condition known as Usher syndrome is one such disability. The symptoms of RP may occur at any age but most commonly they appear in young adults. Generally speaking, the earlier the disease begins, the more severe the symptoms. Occasionally the disease is present at birth and can be diagnosed with appropriate testing at that time. RP is recognized as one of the most common inherited causes of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 60.
Most patients have very gradual progression of symptoms, often over many years or decades.
Generally, when other members of a family are affected, the rate of vision loss is usually similar. Different forms of RP advance at different rates. To date, there is no known way to halt the degeneration of the retina or cure the disease. Transplants of the retina are not possible at this time and there is no convincing scientific evidence to demonstrate benefit from any treatment methods currently available. There are, however, a number of areas currently being researched that demonstrate great potential.