Retinitis Pigmentosa & Retinal Dystrophies in Novi, MI
If doctors have diagnosed you with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or another inherited retinal dystrophy, they may have told you there's nothing more to do but monitor it. But while these conditions may be rare, the challenges they create are very real and you don’t have to face them alone.
Low Vision Tools for Progressive Eye Conditions
Dr. Jacobi helps patients living with progressive vision loss find practical tools that restore function, reduce frustration, and bring back a sense of control.
What is Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited eye diseases that cause the retina to slowly deteriorate. It typically begins with night blindness, often in a patient’s teens or twenties, and gradually progresses to tunnel vision or complete loss of peripheral sight. In advanced stages, even central vision can be affected.
Common symptoms of RP include:
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Difficulty seeing in low light or at night
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Bumping into objects or people due to reduced side vision
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Increased glare sensitivity
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Trouble navigating unfamiliar environments
Although RP progresses slowly, the vision changes can significantly impact mobility, safety, and daily confidence.
Other Retinal Dystrophies
Retinal dystrophies are a broader group of inherited conditions that affect various parts of the retina. Unlike RP, which often affects side vision first, other dystrophies may interfere with central vision, color perception, or contrast sensitivity—making it harder to read, recognize faces, or navigate complex visual environments.
Common symptoms of other dystrophies may include:
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Blurred or distorted central vision
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Poor contrast sensitivity (everything looks washed out)
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Trouble with color perception
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Increased visual fatigue or discomfort with lighting changes
At Beyond Low Vision, we help patients adapt with tools that work in the real world.
How Vision Loss Can Affect Your Life
As retinal dystrophies progress, for many patients the hardest part isn’t what they can’t see—it’s losing the ability to do the things they once did without thinking. Peripheral vision loss can make navigating through a room feel like a maze. Night blindness can turn a simple evening walk into something dangerous. And social moments, like recognizing someone’s face across the room, become isolating. Common challenges include:
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Bumping into furniture or people in crowded areas
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Feeling disoriented in unfamiliar environments
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Struggling to walk safely in dim lighting
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Difficulty with tasks requiring visual awareness, like driving or cooking
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Emotional fatigue or anxiety tied to vision-related accidents or close calls
Supporting Patients at Beyond Low Vision
Dr. Jacobi works with you to understand how your vision loss is affecting daily life and helps you explore tools that reduce stress and improve safety. Our goal is to help you regain control of your environment, protect your independence, and keep doing the things you care about. We may recommend:
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Orientation aids to support mobility and confidence
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High-contrast lighting and glare-reducing filters
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Hands-free magnifiers and task-specific visual aids
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Strategies for navigating daily tasks with limited peripheral or central vision
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Optional home visits for personalized in-environment evaluations
Every device or strategy is something you can try before making a decision.
You Don’t Have to Face Vision Loss Alone
Our Novi low vision clinic supports patients with retinal dystrophies across Northville, Plymouth, Livonia, and surrounding areas, offering practical tools, compassionate care, and expert guidance from a low vision specialist who truly understands. If you or a loved one is living with RP or another inherited retinal disease, we’re here to help. Call to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward a safer, more supported life with vision loss.