How to best utilize your day when you have RP

Most of the patients of RP suffer problems in their day to day life because of a fixed daily routine. It is a well-known fact that the vision of a person suffering from RP varies from the morning till late night. So it becomes very important to understand one’s reaction towards light sensitivity. Here are mentioned some tips to follow as per the individual’s body nature:

• Some patients are more comfortable in the early morning light. So make a habit of doing your outdoor activities in the morning hours say before noon. This is the best time taken for the market works, shopping or other outdoor tasks. Afternoon, the sunlight is at its peak and patients of RP with the cataract start facing glare and photophobia. Heat also becomes a negative factor for RP. Hence preferably do not roam in sunlight especially during the peak hours of bright sunlight.
• Since noon time is to be spent for indoor activities. Hence, either stay in your office or at home. Just do your indoor works. If you have got reading work, then it is time that suits you to complete your office job or your studies. This is the time when most of the patients of RP find themselves in a state of comfort at home or office. Field job is not at all suitable for RP patients.
• In the evening, when bright light reduces and before the darkness to start, once again you can go for some of your outdoor activities. This time do not go for a long and exertive task as the vision gets tired with the onset of evening. The light evening walk with friends is good to lighten your mood.
• Reach home before the night as the lighting of vehicles coming on the road creates a lot of problems for the patients of RP. This thing also speeds up the degeneration process. The tube light of a room does not create problems and patient feels comfortable. The night time outing is the worst experience for a patient of retinitis pigmentosa. So try to be at home at this time.

The above points are the standard suggestions only. One may have his or her own experience about the best and sharp vision and its variations from morning to evening. It is also noticed by some patients of RP that there is daily variation in vision. One day the vision is clear but the other day they do not find sharpness in that. Although there is no relevance and reason for this feeling, still they can best utilize their vision and plan for the outdoor activities on the day when they are more confident and try to stay at home when they find dullness in their vision.