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Selected Publication:
Georgi, T.
A systematic review of retinitis pigmentosa and associated aspects of visual impairment
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2016. pp.
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Georgi Thomas Patrick
- Advisor:
- Ivastinovic Domagoj
- Velikay-Parel Michaela
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- The World Health Organization estimates that 39 million patients are blind and 246 million have low vision. Due to this vast number of severely visual impaired patients the field of low vision rehabilitation has become an important discipline in ophthalmology. One of the leading causes for visual impairment and blindness in mid adulthood in the industrialized countries is retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It is a group of hereditary disorders leading to the degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. Currently, there is no curative therapy available to cease the degenerative process in RP and many patients remain in the state of severely impaired vision for a long period of time. For this reason, the disease has been subject to investigations dealing with innovative therapeutic approaches such as retinal prostheses. In this field of research, the accurate monitoring of visual improvement or deterioration plays an important role. The primary goal in low vision rehabilitation is the improvement of the quality of life (QOL). However, the simple measurement of visual functions represents only one aspect of the dysfunctions which contribute to a reduced QOL. Therefore, task performance tests have been developed to assess functional vision aspects in low vision patients. The aim of this thesis was not only to provide a systematic review of RP, but also to draw the attention the functional aspects associated with severe visual impairment. For the comprehension of the rehabilitation processes in RP, the first part of this thesis examines the principles of the visual function, functional aspects in visual impairment and the development of task performance tests. The second part represents an analysis of the current expertise of RP from a clinical point of view. For this thesis the existing literature including journal publications, books and accredited internet sources was analyzed. The PubMed database was searched for the terms ‘retinitis pigmentosa’, ‘low vision’, ‘visual function’, ‘functional vision’, ‘orientation’ and ‘mobility’, and also referred studies were screened for related information. From this broad variety of literature only relevant publications were used for the writing process.