RP is sometimes associated with syndromes that also affect other parts of the body. Usher syndrome causes hearing loss and vision loss from RP. Although Bardet-Biedl syndrome can involve many part of the body, the defining features of this syndrome are extra fingers and/or toes (which are present at birth) and obesity. Other diseases have a retinal degeneration that is similar to RP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have listed a group of diseases that are of highest concern. This “Category A” list includes the biological agents that cause anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulism, tularemia and the viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola.

Genetics is a complex subject, and The Foundation Fighting Blindness has prepared another booklet, "The Inheritance of Retinal Degenerations," to explain this topic in detail. (This can be ordered by using The Foundation's Publication Order Form.) There are so many different forms of RP, which fall within one of three standard inheritance patterns. Each type of inheritance will create a different pattern of affected and unaffected family members.

Tom Tarrant: "I don't ever remember seeing in the dark. I just don't know what that's like. I remember Halloween when I was a little boy, walking into poles." RP symptoms can vary. In a person with classic or typical RP, night vision and peripheral (or side) vision will be affected initially. Night blindness is one of the earliest and most frequent symptoms of RP, and it refers to difficulty seeing not only at night but also in dimly lit places, such as restaurants and movie theaters.

quot;I was diagnosed at 14 years old and before that I always remember not being able to see at night and being 'klutzy'," remembers Rob Lee. "I was bad at soccer and basketball and didn't know why. I figured that I saw the way everyone else did, but just wasn't as good as others. Being diagnosed with RP was somewhat of a relief to me because it gave me a reason why I couldn't do certain things and why I was a little different from my friends and brothers.

It is not unusual for an individual with RP to develop a cataract, which is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts that significantly interfere with vision can be surgically removed. While cataract surgery cannot improve vision loss due to retinal degeneration, it can lessen the vision loss caused by the cataract.

That is a scary list, to be sure! One of the scarier conditions is Metabolic Syndrome X which has only recently begun to receive much public attention. Metabolic Syndrome is an insulin-insensitivity condition that is believed to be the precursor to adult-onset diabetes. It is estimated that approximately 47 million Americans (22%) now have Metabolic Syndrome. For persons 60-69 years of age, the prevalence rises to 42%.

HLA molecules play a central role in the immune response. They are so polymorphic that the HLA type individualizes a person's immune response and, therefore, is associated with the person's susceptibility to several autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases. These diseases are usually polygenic and triggered or influenced by environmental factors; therefore, a person's HLA type is only one component of his/her susceptibility towards the disease.

According to the European Heart Network (1998), 16% of cardiovascular disease found in men and 22% found in women are due to stress. It has been established that stress factors such as over eating and smoking increase the risk of cancer. Gastro-duodenal ulcers and non-ulcerous dyspepsia and nervous breakdowns are attributed to high stress levels in the body.

Yes, hepatitis C is associated with some cases of thyroid disease, as well as a kidney disease termed glomerulonephritis caused by increased cold sensitivity of blood proteins called cryoglobuluremia..

Celiac Disease is associated with diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. Studies indicate that an individual who has an autoimmune disease is more susceptible to other autoimmune diseases than is a healthy individual.

Not commonly. There are a few patients who may have sarcoidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or lupus erythematosus.

There is strong evidence that links our current high salt intakes to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the main cause of strokes and a major cause of heart attacks. It is also widely recognised that our high salt diet has other adverse effects, such as osteoporosis, asthma, and is closely linked to cancer of the stomach.

quot;Every year I lose a little bit of vision, and every year I do some adjusting," notes Tom Tarrant, who describes himself as "still having a lot of useable vision," although he is legally blind. While gradual vision loss is the common feature of almost all forms of RP, there is no predictable rate of loss, even for people in the same family. Usually the progression is quite slow. Vision sometimes appears to remain stable between annual eye examinations.

Some women have reported that their RP has progressed more rapidly during pregnancy than it ever had previously. However, because RP is rare, this issue is difficult to study in a systematic way. If you are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, you should make sure that your obstetrician/gynecologist is aware of your eye problems, and that your eye care professional knows of your pregnancy.

Blindness, to most people, means a complete loss of sight. As they grow older, some people with RP do become blind in this sense. However, many will retain a small amount of vision such as light perception. A majority of people with RP are legally blind by the age of 40. People who are legally blind usually maintain a good deal of functional vision supplemented by adaptive technology.

This is a difficult question. Many people with RP do drive legally, and do not have problems. Legal vision requirements for a driver's license vary widely from state to state. It would be best to discuss your visual limitations and their effect on driving with your eye care professional. Driving is a symbol of independence and people with progressive vision loss may be unwilling to admit that their vision impairment may affect safe driving.

People with RP and other retinal degenerative diseases continue to lead productive lives and pursue their career goals. By determining appropriate equipment, training, and other job modifications in a chosen field, potential concerns and problems can be identified and possibly postponed. Vocational counseling, offered through educational institutions or state or local agencies, can be very helpful when planning or pursuing a career.

If you think you're being snubbed, double-check the FAQ and Tips & Tricks to see if you overlooked something. Be aware that the other players have probably been working on a story long before you joined. Sometimes they welcome fresh meat, sometimes they're afraid a Newbie will ruin everything. Try e-mailing the person you want to interact with. Ask them what they are writing about and what you should know, then try writing a RP that fits into their story.