retinitis pigmentosa

American  

[pig-men-toh-suh, -muhn-] / ˌpɪg mɛnˈtoʊ sə, -mən- /

noun

Ophthalmology.

1. degeneration of the retina manifested by night blindness and gradual loss of peripheral vision, eventually resulting in tunnel vision or total blindness.

---

retinitis pigmentosa British  

/ ˌpɪɡmənˈtəʊsə /

noun

1. a degenerative hereditary disease of the human eye, characterized by pigmentary changes in the retina, night blindness, and eventual loss of vision

---

retinitis pigmentosa Scientific  

/ rĕt′n-ī′tĭspĭg′mĕn-tō′sə /

1. A hereditary degenerative disease of the retina, characterized by difficulty seeing at night, pigmentary changes within the retina, and eventual loss of vision.

---

Etymology

Origin of retinitis pigmentosa

1860–65; < New Latin: pigmentary retinitis. See pigment, -ose ¹

Example Sentences

Petrou was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disorder that leads to vision loss, at age 18.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 18, Petrou later advocated for “EyeBonds” and tax incentives to fund blindness research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Because for Pembroke - who has only 10% vision having been diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa, when he was six - it's not just about beer.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

McCausland, 47, was registered blind after losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa in his 20s.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2024

It’s called retinitis pigmentosa and it’s like watching the world through a toilet paper roll.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera