Retinitis Pigmentosa: How Lumyeye Supports Every Stage of the Disease
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) affects roughly 1 in 4,000 people worldwide. It causes progressive loss of peripheral then central vision. Lumyeye adapts to each stage to preserve your independence.
👁️ Understanding Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare genetic diseases that cause progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors. It is the leading cause of inherited blindness.
📊 RP in Numbers
1 in 4,000people are affected worldwide — roughly 1.5 million people globally. The disease typically appears between ages 10 and 30 and progresses over several decades. Over 100 different genes can be involved.
The 3 Stages of RP
- Stage 1 — Night blindness: difficulty seeing in darkness and low light. Rod photoreceptors (night vision) are affected first.
- Stage 2 — Tunnel vision: visual field narrows progressively. Central vision is still preserved but peripheral vision disappears.
- Stage 3 — Central vision loss: cone photoreceptors are finally affected, central vision deteriorates. Blindness may follow.
Daily Life Impact
- Evening activities impossible: restaurants, cinemas, evening walks
- Navigation difficulties: unseen obstacles, stairs, lighting changes
- Reading progressively affected: visual field too narrow to scan a page
- Career threatened: workplace adaptations needed
- Psychological impact: diagnosed young, uncertain progression, anxiety
🧠 Lumyeye at Every Stage of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Unlike fixed hardware aids, Lumyeye adapts to the progression of your condition.
Stage 1: Low-Light Assistance
Lumyeye's AI uses the smartphone camera sensor, which sees far better in darkness than your eyes. It describes your surroundings when the light fades.
Stage 2: Panoramic Description
Your vision narrowing to a tunnel? The AI describes the entire scene, including everything happening at the periphery of your visual field.
All Stages: Reading & Summary
The AI reads your documents in full and summarizes them. No need to scan the whole page — it reads everything for you.
All Stages: Unlimited Dialogue
Ask as many questions as you want about what the camera sees. The AI responds instantly, like a permanent personal assistant.
"I was diagnosed with RP at 20. At 45, my tunnel vision makes outings stressful. Lumyeye describes obstacles, reads menus at restaurants, helps me grocery shop. It's my safety net."— Claire V., 45, retinitis pigmentosa — Melbourne, Australia
🏛️ RP & Disability Benefits
RP is a well-documented progressive disease, and disability applications are generally well-accepted:
- US: SSDI; state vocational rehabilitation for assistive technology
- UK: PIP; CVI registration
- Canada: DTC; provincial assistive device programs
- Australia: NDIS funding for assistive technology
💡 Advice for RP Patients
RP progresses. Plan ahead. Start with Lumyeye now to familiarize yourself with AI assistance before your vision deteriorates further. Building the habit early makes the transition at each stage smoother. Free trial (~20 requests), $16.90/month after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does retinitis pigmentosa affect vision?
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare genetic diseases that cause progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors (first rods, then cones). It first causes night blindness (difficulty seeing in darkness), then progressive peripheral visual field loss (tunnel vision), and finally central vision loss. Progression varies depending on the genes involved.
Is Lumyeye suitable for retinitis pigmentosa?
Yes. Lumyeye adapts to each stage. Early stage (night blindness): the AI describes dark scenes. Intermediate (tunnel vision): full panoramic description. Advanced (very reduced vision): 100% voice interface, complete reading, AI dialogue. $16.90/month with a free trial.
Does RP qualify for disability benefits?
Yes. RP is a well-documented progressive disease that typically qualifies for disability support (SSDI in the US, PIP in the UK, DTC in Canada, NDIS in Australia). Applications are generally well-accepted because the disease is documented and progressive.
At what stage should I start using Lumyeye?
As early as possible. Getting familiar with the app while vision is still reasonable makes it much easier to use as it deteriorates. At stage 1, Lumyeye already helps in low light. At stage 2, it compensates for tunnel vision. At stage 3, it becomes indispensable.
Retinitis Pigmentosa? Preserve Your Independence with AI
Lumyeye adapts to the progression of your RP. Try free — no commitment.
🔒 Privacy & Security
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