RP Fighting Blindness

The British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society (BRPS) is a voluntary, self-help organization in the United Kingdom that was established in 1975. The society is dedicated to helping affected individuals cope with vision impairment resulting from retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and stimulating research into the causes and eventual treatment of RP. Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of eye conditions characterized by degeneration of the retina, the nerve-rich membrane at the back of the eye. Although the severity and progression of the condition may vary, associated symptoms and findings often include poor vision in dim light (night blindness), abnormal pigmentation of the retina, and progressively reduced fields of vision. In most cases, retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary condition. The British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society offers a helpline to affected individuals and family members that provides information, advice, and assistance concerning everyday living skills, careers and employment, children and education, mobility and communication needs, benefits and pensions, and other areas. In addition, the society has several publications on a range of subjects and distributes a quarterly newsletter in bold print, in Braille, or on audiotape.