Photoaversion in retinitis pigmentosa

SUMMARY Photoaversion, or light-induced interference with visual comfort and performance, has been a recognised but poorly documented symptom in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We found that a majority of our RP patients complained of photoaversion even in the absence of significant cataract. RP patients had reduced contrast sensitivity relative to normal people, but the decrement in their visual performance as a result of glare or photostress was only slight. RP patients had raised short-term adaptation and increment threshold levels, but their rate of short-term or photopic adaptation was normal. Photoaversion in RP may result because a small interference with contrast sensitivity or adaptation can place patients in a range of functional disability, or it may derive from a combination of minor aberrations. The most prominent symptoms of retinitis pigmen-tosa (RP) are progressive night blindness and field loss, though central vision may also be reduced. Many patients complain of difficulty in functioning in bright light (noted anecdotally by Leber in 1916'), but to our knowledge there has been no documenta