Retinitis is an eye condition where the tissue at the back of the eyeball becomes inflamed. It can lead to reduced vision and vision loss.

The tissue at the back of the eye is known as the retina. It contains millions of cells that detect light and send electrical signals to the brain for processing, allowing people to see.

Retinitis can occur due to infection or if a person inherits it from a biological parent. Treatment options aim to slow the disease’s progression and relieve symptoms.

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Retinitis is a condition where the soft tissue at the back of the eye becomes inflamed.

This inflammation can damage the tissue, which, in turn, can reduce the eye’s ability to respond to light. Over time, as this damage progresses, vision becomes weaker and weaker.

People can either be born with retinitis or develop it due to an infection.

One form, retinitis pigmentosa, belongs to a group of eye conditions that affects around 1 in 4,000 peopleTrusted Source in the United States and 1 in 5,000 people worldwide.

There are two main types of retinitis.

Retinitis pigmentosa

This form of retinitis is typically an inherited conditionTrusted Source, which occurs from the genes that children receive from their parents. This means that people are usually born with it.

There are over 100 different genes that could lead to the development of retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa can also develop as part of a genetic condition called Usher syndromeTrusted Source, which affects hearing and vision.

This form of retinitis first affects the rod cells in the retina, which are responsible for vision in low light and peripheral vision. Over time, it starts affecting the cone cells, which are responsible for color vision.

On rare occasions, retinitis pigmentosa can occur due to an infection, eye injury, or by taking certain medications.

Learn more about retinitis pigmentosa.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis occurs due to a virus that often affects peopleTrusted Source with weakened immune systems. This includes:

Learn more about CMV.

Other forms of retinitis

Retinitis can also occur due to infection from viruses or bacteria. Doctors may refer to these cases as infectious retinitis, viral retinitis, or bacterial retinitis.

Inflammation of the retina can also occur due to some autoimmune conditions, such as Behçet’s disease and lupus.

Retinitis affects vision, and symptoms will progress over time without treatment. With infectious retinitis, vision can reduce quickly over just a few days, though vision loss with retinitis pigmentosa takes much longer.

The earliest symptoms of retinitis are typically the loss of night vision and peripheral vision, also known as side vision.

As the damage to the retinal tissue continues, people will experience further reduced vision. Eventually, most individuals will lose their central visionTrusted Source. The speed of vision loss differs from person to person.

The symptoms of retinitis vary between different types. Other symptoms that people may experience include:

Cases of retinitis relating to infection will typically affect one eye to begin with. Without treatment, symptoms can spread to the other eye. However, most casesTrusted Source of retinitis pigmentosa affect both eyes.

The main causes of retinitis are:

Doctors will use several tests to make a retinitis diagnosis. These include:

  • Dilated eye exam: A doctor will widen the pupil using eye drops and then look inside the eye for signs of disease.
  • Visual field testing: This test measures peripheral vision and helps doctors find any blind spots a person might have.
  • Electroretinography: This test checks how well the rod and cone cells in the retina respond to light.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT): This test uses light waves to build a cross-section image of the retina.
  • Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging: This test picks up naturally occurring light from the retina that shows how healthy it is.
  • Fluid samples from the eye: Doctors may want to take a fluid sample from the eye to check for the presence of infections.
  • Genetic testing: Analyzing a person’s genes can provide information about how the retinitis might progress if it has a genetic cause.

The treatment options available for retinitis will depend on the type of person who has it and the cause.

There is currently no cure for retinitis pigmentosa. As a result, its treatment involves adapting to low vision levels with the help of visual aids and training. Aids include magnifying lenses and brighter lighting.

Options that may help with certain forms of retinitis pigmentosa include:

  • eye drops or medication to reduce retinal swelling
  • specific medication for cases due to an RPE65 genetic mutation
  • retinal implants

For cases of retinitis that occur due to an infection such as CMV, doctors will aim to treat the underlying infectionTrusted Source.

Treating CMV retinitis likely involves antiviral medication. People may receive this orally, in their veins, or in the eye itself.

Doctors may also need to carry out laser surgery to prevent the retina from becoming detached. They may also take steps to strengthen the patient’s immune system, which could include a form of treatment called highly active antiretroviral therapy.

At present, there are several new treatments for retinitis that doctors are researchingTrusted Source, which may one day help maintain vision. These approaches include gene therapy and stem cell therapy.

Learn more about stem cells.

Vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa is typically irreversible. However, infectious retinitis can improve if doctors catch it early and treat it appropriately.

Retinitis is often a progressive condition. Even if treatment stops the progression, retinitis can reoccur.

With forms of retinitis that occur due to infection, a person’s outlook will depend on how quickly they receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Most people with retinitis pigmentosa will continue to have good central vision until their 50sTrusted Source.

Do most people with retinitis pigmentosa go blind?

Most peopleTrusted Source with retinitis pigmentosa eventually reach a state of vision loss that makes them legally blind. However, total vision loss is uncommon.

Can you live with retinitis pigmentosa?

People with retinitis pigmentosa can continue many of their routine activities by making lifestyle adjustmentsTrusted Source. However, their ability to live a typical life will depend on how far the disease has progressed.

Retinitis is a progressive condition in which the soft tissue at the back of the eye becomes inflamed, leading to reduced and lost vision. It can occur due to inheriting a genetic mutation or an infection.

The two main forms of retinitis are retinitis pigmentosa, which is an inherited condition, and cytomegalovirus retinitis, which occurs due to infection with cytomegalovirus.

Vision loss due to retinitis is typically permanent. However, visual aids and rehabilitation can help people with the condition continue with many everyday activities.