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• Retinitis Pigmentosa in Rural AP
• Posted: 2008-03-30 09:30:07 By Anthony D
• Hello everyone,
  Im Dr.Anthony Vipin from Warangal, India. I'm a Post-Graduate student in Ophthalmology. I have seen many families being affected with Retinitis Pigmentosa, back here in our Hospital. It pains me to see the young patients being affected, and the incidence is also high due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages.
  I request you all to help us in anyway, through advice and support, what can i do for the patients to help them recope with their life. how can we rehabilitate them? please help me do something for these patients. The most challenging would be to rehabilitate them in a rural setup.
  how far are low vision aids helpful? Please advice. thank you.
  regards
  Dr.Vipin

• Re: Retinitis Pigmentosa in Rural AP
• Posted: 2008-03-31 10:25:14 By Kim V
• Dr. Vipin,
  
  I think that rural rehab is totally different than city living. I live in a very rural area, I think that all the skills you can learn, braille, cane, general life skills for low vision are all important, no matter where you live. It is important to know what services are available in your rural area, you should have a state commision for the blind and visually impared and social services should be able to help you learn what is available in your area. There are often volunteers that will take people where they need to go. Most of the time you have to go to an urban area to get training, but there is usually help to get you there.
  
  I think that in my case it is important to focus on abilities or being differently able and not on what you can't do. It is important to be realistic, but to not dwell on what one can not do. Everyone has an ability to do something to be a productive part of society.
  
  I would also find out about family history and recommend genetic testing to make sure patients know what type of rp they have so they can be prepared for children etc.
  
  I wish you luck, it is all about information and what to do with it!! Kim

• Thank You!
• Posted: 2008-04-02 22:56:30 By Anthony D
• Thank You Kim, your message was vey helpful, I will get in touch with local volunteer organisations for the blind and concentrate on the skills you have mentioned. Thank you for the advice, shall keep in touch.
  regards
  Dr.Vipin