retinitis pigmentosa

noun

retinitis pig·​men·​to·​sa -ˌpig-mən-ˈtō-sə 

-(ˌ)men-,

-zə

: any of several hereditary progressive degenerative diseases of the eye marked by night blindness in the early stages, atrophy and pigment changes in the retina, constriction of the visual field, and eventual blindness

Examples of retinitis pigmentosa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Three of their four children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable degenerative disease that eventually results in near-total loss of vision. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2024

Follow-up exams indicated that Rebecca, then 12, had the rare genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that leads to blindness. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 16 May 2024

Nyla Wallace has coped with vision challenges for most of her 16 years, but was only recently diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which causes an individual’s sight to deteriorate over time and has no cure. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024

Because of a genetic reason— A condition called retinitis pigmentosa, uh huh. —Jason Kehe, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, pigmented retinitis

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

retinitis pigmentosa

noun

retinitis pig·​men·​to·​sa -ˌpig-mən-ˈtō-sə, -(ˌ)men-, -zə 

: any of several hereditary progressive degenerative diseases of the eye marked by night blindness in the early stages, atrophy and pigment changes in the retina, constriction of the visual field, and eventual blindness

—abbreviation RP

called also pigmentary retinopathy