retinitis pigmentosa

noun

retinitis pig·​men·​to·​sa -ˌpig-mən-ˈtō-sə 

-(ˌ)men-,

-zə

: any of several hereditary progressive degenerative diseases of the eye marked by night blindness in the early stages, atrophy and pigment changes in the retina, constriction of the visual field, and eventual blindness

Examples of retinitis pigmentosa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the antibody was injected into the retinas of mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, the action of PROX1 was blocked, retinal regeneration was restored, and vision returned for a period of over six months. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 11 June 2025

Burke was just 4 years old when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare eye disease that eventually leads to blindness. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 May 2025

So far, Second Sight has concentrated on patients with retinitis pigmentosa—the disease Campbell has—but the company’s device may also help with macular degeneration. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2011

Wynn suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable eye disease. —Alex Isenstadt, Axios, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, pigmented retinitis

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for retinitis pigmentosa

• bullosa
• fibrosa
• mimosa
• mucosa
• mucosae
• nervosa
• nodosa
• pilosa
• rugosa
• serosa
• dolorosa
• mariposa

Medical Definition

retinitis pigmentosa

noun

retinitis pig·​men·​to·​sa -ˌpig-mən-ˈtō-sə, -(ˌ)men-, -zə 

: any of several hereditary progressive degenerative diseases of the eye marked by night blindness in the early stages, atrophy and pigment changes in the retina, constriction of the visual field, and eventual blindness

—abbreviation RP

called also pigmentary retinopathy