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Warning-sign checks

Retinitis pigmentosa: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services if sudden vision loss occurs with weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe dizziness, or a sudden severe headache.

    These can be signs of a neurological emergency rather than retinitis pigmentosa.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Get urgent same-day eye care for:

    • A sudden increase in flashes or floaters
    • A dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision
    • Sudden or rapid loss of vision
    • A painful, red eye with reduced vision
    • Significant eye injury
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine eye appointment if you notice increasing difficulty seeing at night, slower adjustment to darkness, loss of side vision, or frequent collisions with objects.

    These symptoms have several possible causes and need a proper eye assessment.

The article also says

If you already have retinitis pigmentosa, seek an earlier review for a noticeable change in central vision, new distortion, increasing glare, or difficulty with tasks that were previously manageable.

These changes may reflect a treatable complication rather than the expected gradual course.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Retinitis pigmentosa. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.