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AOA members publish paper calling for comprehensive eye exams to detect retinitis pigmentosa

March 15, 2026

Existing AOA guidelines bring awareness to the underdiagnosed condition.

Tag(s): Clinical Eye Care, Public Health, Diseases and Conditions

Female optometrist with young girl and dad


Key Takeaways

  • AOA members Rachelle Lin, O.D., and Maria Richman, O.D., were part of a 12-person panel to define improved methods for diagnosing and treating RP and other inherited retinal diseases (IRD).
  • The panel concluded that early education and comprehensive eye exams were the most powerful tools for accelerating diagnosis and treatment, leading to longer vision preservation for patients with RP. 
  • The paper references the AOA’s foundational document, Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination, as a reference standard for eye care.
  • If patients have a confirmed diagnosis of RP, new gene therapies may offer some relief and help manage symptoms. 

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