Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited eye conditions that affect the retina’s ability to respond to light. It causes gradual vision loss, typically beginning with difficulty seeing in low light and progressing to reduced peripheral vision. Although RP can be life-changing, many people continue to work successfully for years with the proper understanding, technology and workplace adjustments.
This article explains how RP affects vision, the challenges it presents in the workplace, and the simple, low-cost, or no-cost adjustments that make work safer and more comfortable for employees living with RP.
About Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa damages the light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye (the retina), leading to a progressive loss of vision over time. The first symptom is often night blindness, characterised by difficulty seeing in dimly lit environments or outdoors after dark. As the condition advances, people may experience tunnel vision, where peripheral sight is gradually lost, leaving only central vision intact.
Some people with RP also experience glare sensitivity, slower adjustment to changes in lighting, or reduced contrast sensitivity. The progression rate varies between individuals — some retain functional central vision for decades, while others experience more rapid changes. Understanding this variation is key to providing the proper support at work.
How Retinitis Pigmentosa Can Affect Work
In the workplace, RP can affect how easily a person navigates their environment, reads text, or interacts with visual materials. Common challenges include:
– Difficulty moving safely in dim or changing light conditions.
– Missing objects or hazards in peripheral vision.
– Struggling with glare from screens, windows or overhead lights.
– Needing additional time to adjust when moving between bright and dark areas.
– Fatigue caused by extra visual concentration.
These issues can impact everyday tasks such as reading documents, using screens, moving around the office, or recognising faces. However, most barriers can be removed through practical adjustments and good communication.
No-Cost and Low-Cost Workplace Adjustments
Many helpful changes require little to no implementation cost. They not only benefit employees with RP but also improve comfort and safety for all staff.
Area | No-Cost Adjustments | Low-Cost Adjustments |
Lighting | Maintain consistent lighting throughout corridors and rooms, avoid dark areas, and ensure that blinds reduce glare. | Install adjustable task lighting or motion-sensor lights in corridors and kitchens to enhance visibility and safety. |
Screen Use | Enable high-contrast themes or dark mode, increase font size, and use screen magnification tools. | Provide a larger monitor, an anti-glare screen, or software such as ZoomText or SuperNova. |
Workspace Layout & Safety | Maintain clear walkways and consistent furniture placement; remove trip hazards. | Use tactile or high-contrast edging tape on stairs and doorframes. |
Information Access | Share documents digitally so they can be magnified or read using speech output. | Produce large-print labels or install accessible signage with high colour contrast. |
Flexibility | Allow flexible working hours for eye appointments or to avoid night travel. | Provide portable lighting or home-working equipment where appropriate. |
Hints and Tips for Everyday Working
– Keep hallways, meeting rooms and stairwells evenly lit.
РAvoid dark d̩cor and flooring that can mask steps or hazards.
– Encourage colleagues to identify themselves when approaching or starting conversations.
– Offer alternative meeting formats such as online calls where lighting can be controlled.
– Use clear, high-contrast signage and avoid handwritten labels.
– Provide time for familiarisation when office layouts or routes change.
Building Awareness and Communication
Awareness is vital in supporting staff with RP. Line managers should maintain open communication and check regularly that adjustments remain suitable, as vision can change over time. Flexibility and understanding make a massive difference to an employee’s confidence and productivity.
Offering sensory awareness training can help teams better understand how RP affects vision and how small behavioural changes, like keeping workspaces tidy or announcing presence, can improve inclusion. Many employers also arrange professional workplace assessments to ensure the environment and technology meet each individual’s needs.
Legal Rights and Support
Under the Equality Act 2010, retinitis pigmentosa qualifies as a disability when it has a substantial, long-term effect on daily activities. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to remove or reduce workplace barriers that may hinder employees’ ability to perform their duties.
Summary
With greater understanding and a few thoughtful changes, employees with retinitis pigmentosa can continue to work independently and effectively. Minor, low-cost adjustments often have the most significant impact, helping people stay safe, confident and included in every aspect of working life.
Need a visual impairment workplace assessment?
If you or someone in your team has a sight-loss condition and would like expert, tailored support to stay productive and safe at work, visit https://visualisetrainingandconsultancy.com/workplace-assessments/visual-impairment-workplace-assessments to arrange a workplace assessment.