Rod-Cone Dystrophy

Rod-cone dystrophy results from a primary loss of rod photoreceptors, followed by loss of cones.

The term, rod-cone dystrophy is used as an 'umbrella term' to imply retinal defects that impact primarily rod cells, with cone cells spared, at least until later stages of the disease. It can be used to generically define any retinal degenerative disease that exhibits this condition.

Retinitis Pigmentosa is considered a rod cone dystrophy, as is Leber Congenital Amaurosis and Usher syndrome. Note that rod-cone dystrophy is a different disease entity than Cone-Rod Dystrophy.