Eyes

The majority of IP patients have normal vision. Some problems, like near- and far-sightedness, are common in IP individuals, but these are probably no more frequent than in the general population without IP. The classical eye finding in IP is an abnormality in the growth of blood vessels in the inside of the eye (the retina). Growth of abnormal blood vessels, and the associated scarring can cause loss of vision but may be treated if recognized early enough.

For this reason, babies diagnosed with IP should have an eye examination immediately after birth and be followed by an ophthalmologist closely during the first few years of life. Careful examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist or retinal disease specialist should be done 3-4 times in the first year, then every 6 months until age 4 years, then annually.

Rare eye abnormalities have included small eye (microphthalmos), cataract, and degeneration of the optic nerve (optic atrophy).