Madison Maidenberg says the Love Is Blind experiment will “simulate” what her life could soon be like if she loses her vision to retinitis pigmentosa
An eye specialist has shared symptoms after Netflix star Madison Maidenberg moved viewers during her first appearance on the new season of Love Is Blind. The 28 year old revealed there’s a “good chance” she’ll eventually go blind due to her condition, retinitis pigmentosa.
She received her diagnosis seven years ago and has been working with the Foundation Fighting Blindness to raise money and awareness around sightloss ever since. She said during the show’s first episode: “This experiment is so much more to me because it simulates what my life could be like when I do lose my vision. I know what I need in a partner with my diagnosis.”
On her Instagram, the UX/UI designer explained that she has relatively good vision in bright light. However, her peripheral vision is weaker.
For example, when looking into someone’s eyes, she struggles to see below their nose. And darker lighting, like dimly lit restaurants, gives her a hard time.
Now Boots Opticians Optometrist Opinder Malhi has explained that retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is not just one disorder but refers to a group of eye conditions. These affect the specialist cells, known as rods and cones, in the retina that convert light into electrical signals. This also means the symptoms can vary a lot between patients, but they often start appearing between the ages of 10 and 30.
She explained: “Rod cells are present throughout the retina and help us see in low, dim light conditions. Cone cells are concentrated in the centre of the retina and allow us to see detail and colour. With RP, these light-sensitive cells of the retina can gradually stop working, affecting your vision.
“The more common symptoms are difficulty seeing in poor light, a gradual narrowing of in the peripheral field of vision and loss of the side vision, sometimes called ‘tunnel vision’. People also often find they miss things or trip over objects.
“In the early stages, central vision is unaffected. We also know that people with RP can be more prone to developing cataracts at a younger age.
“A cataract is when the eye’s natural lens becomes opaque, but this can be treated with surgery to replace it with a clear artificial lens.”
“RP can be caused by a change, what we sometimes call a ‘misprint’, in a gene, or can be passed down from one or both parents. The exact type of RP depends on which gene is affected, and that can influence how quickly or slowly the condition progresses.”
There is currently no treatment or cure able to slow the progression of the disease. Although certain people may be able to use gene therapy available on the NHS to preserve or improve their vision. But this depends on the specific genetic mutation causing the disease.
The expert added: “RP is a progressive condition. The rod cells stop working first, and eventually, the cone cells are affected too. This causes gradual vision loss. However, many people with RP retain useful central vision well into middle age.”