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J. T. Pearlman, MD
Jules Stein Eye Institute 800 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90024

Arch Neurol. 1976;33(8):590.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Clinical studies of patients suffering from primary pigmentary retinal degeneration (retinitis pigmentosa) have shown instances where the correct diagnosis was missed because of the lack of characteristic retinal pigmentary changes. Frequently, such patients, especially young women, have been evaluated neurologically for suspected multiple sclerosis because of unexplained visual field loss. As a part of the neurologic work-up, extensive, occasionally invasive, and potentially dangerous neurodiagnostic tests have been performed, with negative results.

In early stages, retinitis pigmentosa lacks intraretinal pigment deposition.¹ The retinal pigmentary changes that give the entity its name are invariably accompanied by advanced functional loss. However, tubular constriction of peripheral visual fields, night blindness, and characteristic electrophysiologic changes (impaired electro-oculographic and electroretinographic responses) can establish the proper diagnosis even in the absence of retinal pigmentation. The visual field changes of acute retrobulbar optic neuritis almost always affect central vision, while those of retinitis pigmentosa . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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