title: Photoaversion in retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: Photoaversion, or light-induced interference with visual comfort and performance, has been a recognised but poorly documented symptom in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We found that a majority of our RP patients complained of photoaversion even in the absence of significant cataract. RP patients had reduced contrast sensitivity relative to normal people, but the decrement in their visual performance as a result of glare or photostress was only slight. RP patients had raised short-term adaptation and increment threshold levels, but their rate of short-term or photopic adaptation was normal. Photoaversion in RP may result because a small interference with contrast sensitivity or adaptation can place patients in a range of functional disability, or it may derive from a combination of minor aberrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University Medical Center, California 94305.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gawande
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Marmor
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors