[Long-term follow-up of a case of unilateral retinitis pigmentosa]

Abstract

Background: Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa is a retinal dystrophy affecting only one eye, the fellow eye being affected neither functionally nor in fundus appearance. There are relatively few cases of unilateral retinitis pigmentosa being followed for more than 5 years.

Case: An 18-year-old woman complaining of blurred vision of left eye was found to have left visual field concentric contraction. Because the right eye was unaffected electrofunctionally and in fundus appearance, there was a suspicion of unilateral retinitis pigmentosa. We tracked her for 8 years and, because the right eye remained unaffected, we diagnosed unilateral retinitis pigmentosa of left eye.

Conclusion: We report a case of unilateral retinitis pigmentosa. It is reported that the healthy fellow eye of patients with unilateral retinitis pigmentosa developed bilateral retinitis pigmentosa after 10 years, consequently, this case needs further follow-up.