Commonly abbreviated as ‘RP’, ‘Retinitis Pigmentosa’ is an eye disease resulting fromgenetic variations that are passed on through inheritance. It leads to progressive vision loss, caused by the gradual degeneration of light-sensing rod and cone cells of retina at the back of the eye.
An estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. have RP, mainly caused by gene mutations (variations) inherited from one or both parents.
Lowered night vision and decreased peripheral vision are some of the earliest symptoms of RP. Prolonged cases of retinitis pigmentosa may also lead to central vision loss, eventually leading to legal blindness.
Unfortunately, no viable retinitis pigmentosa cure exists. You can only manage and work your way around this chronic eye condition for now.
You can learn more about retinitis pigmentosa by clicking here.
Retinitis Pigmentosa Glasses
That’s why we have compiled a list of top 3 retinitis pigmentosa glasses so that you can live well with RP and regain your independence as much as possible:
i. Argus II / Bionic Eye
The Argus II is a surgically implanted retinal prosthesis — often called a ‘bionic eye’ — developed for adults with severe to profound retinitis pigmentosa, pairing a camera-fitted pair of glasses with an implanted electrode array to send visual signals toward the brain.
ii. eSight
eSight is a wearable, camera-based electronic headset that enhances live video for people with a range of low-vision conditions, though it does not offer a dedicated retinitis pigmentosa mode.
iii. IrisVision Vista Retinitis Pigmentosa Glasses
Not your average glasses for retinitis pigmentosa, the IrisVision Vista is a highly innovative and contemporary low-vision solution aimed at assisting people with low vision conditions. In fact, it is one of the few low-vision aids with a dedicated field-shrink view for tunnel vision, specially designed to augment the vision of people with RP.
Purpose-Built Retinitis Pigmentosa Support with a Dedicated Field-Shrink View
What really sets Vista apart from other glasses for retinitis pigmentosa is its dedicated field-shrink view. As a person with RP, you can change the ‘Field of View’ (FOV) of the screen visible to you, shrinking the whole scene to fit within your efficient FOV zone. This ability to shrink the entire image into a smaller viewing area not only serves people with RP, but also glaucoma.
Vista is a wearable, hands-free low-vision headset that captures a sharp, clear view of the world and is controlled by voice or a simple remote. In addition to RP and glaucoma, Vista is designed to cater to the visual requirements of a range of eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, optic nerve damage, ocular albinism and so forth.
Features
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Special glasses for retinitis pigmentosa in a wearable, hands-free headset that captures the scene and offers an augmented view to the user
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Magnification of up to 14x with auto-focus
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A dedicated field-shrink view for tunnel vision, plus Scene, Reading (with Reading Line), TV and Outline modes to compensate for different types of vision impairment
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Voice-first “Iris” assistant to control the headset hands-free by voice or a simple remote
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Patented “Bubble View”, designed to magnify objects within a bubble without losing the overall context of the whole view
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Helps people with RP perform a wide range of daily activities, such as viewing live scenes from the surroundings, recognizing loved ones’ faces and enjoying hands-free YouTube with Vision Cast
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“Iris” read-aloud, using OCR to read printed text back to you
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Wi-Fi-optional, with one-on-one coaching, a 30-day trial and free US shipping
Here is how the three retinitis pigmentosa glasses compare at a glance:
| Feature | IrisVision Vista | Argus II | eSight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-surgical, wearable headset | ✔ | — | ✔ |
| Dedicated field-shrink mode for RP / tunnel vision | ✔ | — | — |
| Voice-first, hands-free control | ✔ | — | — |
| Up to 14x magnification with auto-focus | ✔ | — | Partial |
| OCR read-aloud | ✔ | — | Some |
| Multiple vision modes (Scene, Bubble View, Reading, TV, Outline) | ✔ | — | Partial |
| Hands-free YouTube + Vision Cast | ✔ | — | — |
| Wi-Fi-optional | ✔ | — | — |
| One-on-one coaching + 30-day trial | ✔ | — | Partial |
| Free US shipping | ✔ | — | — |
| Most affordable of the group | ✔ | — | — |
Across the board, IrisVision Vista delivers the most complete, purpose-built retinitis pigmentosa experience of the group — non-surgical, voice-first and the most affordable option.
What If It’s Too Late and Diabetic Retinopathy Has Already Affected Your Vision?
One thing is for sure, technology is progressing at a rapid pace, and what’s merely a farfetched idea today can be the most happening thing tomorrow. So, if you or a loved one is suffering from retinitis pigmentosa or some other degenerative eye diseases, many cures and many aids are around the corner.
As of now, the IrisVision Vista glasses for retinitis pigmentosa clearly seem to lead the industry in providing you relief of the limitations inflicted by this eye disease. It surely offers you the best value of money and you can avail a free trial anytime. So, best of luck for going ahead with that!