Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP): Mechanisms and Restoration Strategies
Evidence & Resources
10 items total
Vision Can Be Modeled as a Multi-Layer Signal Processing Pipeline
All therapies understood as interventions at different pipeline layers: Light - Photoreceptors - Retinal Circuit - Optic...
Alternative Therapies Are Used but Lack Strong Clinical Evidence
Acupuncture reported to improve symptoms. Robust scientific validation limited.
Secondary Interventions Can Improve Functional Vision in RP Patients
Cataract surgery and low-vision aids improve usable vision. Quality-of-life improvement. Not disease-modifying.
Pharmacological Interventions May Slow Photoreceptor Degeneration
Antioxidants and Vitamin A derivatives may slow degeneration. Supportive, not curative.
Direct Cortical Stimulation May Restore Vision Without Functional Eyes
BCI efforts aim to stimulate visual cortex directly. Potential for complete bypass. Highly experimental.
Electrical Stimulation of Retina Can Produce Artificial Vision
Epiretinal implants convert camera input into electrical signals. Bypasses biological photoreceptors. Limited resolution...
Optogenetics Enables Non-Photoreceptor Cells to Respond to Light
Light-sensitive proteins introduced into retinal ganglion cells. Works even when photoreceptors are gone. Clinical proof...
Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Cells Can Replace Lost Photoreceptors
iPSC can be differentiated into retinal cells and transplanted. Does not depend on mutation type. Integration challenge.
CRISPR-Based Editing Can Modify Disease-Causing Mutations in Retina
Gene editing technologies such as CRISPR can directly modify mutations in retinal cells. Precision but still early-stage...
Gene Therapy Can Restore Function in Mutation-Specific RP Cases
Gene therapy using viral vectors (e.g., AAV) can introduce functional copies of defective genes into retinal cells. Work...