Information about Retinal Degenerations Retinal degenerations are very difficult diseases to describe because each is different. The three main types of retinal degeneration that The Foundation studies are briefly described below. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited blinding disease which typically causes gradual degeneration of photoreceptor cells knows as rod and cone cells.
Symptoms generally worsen over a period of years.
Usher syndrome is a blinding, inherited disease combining RP and serious hearing impairment. Hearing impairment is typically present from birth or recognized very early in life. Hearing loss is due to a problem with the sensory nerve cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. Macular degeneration causes a deterioration of the macula, the small circular area in the center of the retina that makes it possible to see fine detail and is responsible for central vision. Facts Retinal degenerations including RP, macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome affect over six million Americans.