Can my mother get her eyesight back?

Q: My 48 years old mother is suffering from retina pigmentation problem for the last 30 years. She has lost her vision completely and can't see anything. We have consulted three reputed doctors and all of them say that it's not possible to get back her eyesight. Can my mother get her eyesight back?

A:I presume she is suffering from Retinitis pigmentosa. When you say retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) problem, that does not mean anything. RPE is just a layer of normal tissue in the retina. Retinitis pigmentosa is a familial condition in which not only retina but optic nerve also gets damaged over the years. Once that happens, and that is why she is blind, nothing can be done to improve the sight. Sometimes cataract is an associated condition and its operation may improve vision slightly but very little, if at all. Even if you have her thoroughly examined, they will just confirm this diagnosis. Eye specialists in Hyderabad Hospitals are mostly as good as any where in the world. If you want to know more about it, you can join Retinitis Pigmentosa society and/or do more study on the Internet. Make sure other members of her blood relations are investigated as well. Lot of research is being done but nothing of practical significance has come out of it yet.