There are a range of different signs and symptoms that you might experience, beyond problems with your vision. These vary because of the number of diseases that are included in the term inherited retinal dystrophy. Below are signs of vision problems that might prompt a doctor to do more tests. This list highlights some of the problems you might see across different types of IRD.
Overview of Diagnosis Process
In babies and young children:
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements)
- Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
- Poking or rubbing of the eyes
- Problems with hearing and balance (mostly associated with Usher syndrome)
In older children and teenagers:
- Difficulty reading and seeing things at a distance
- Loss of visual acuity
- Night blindness (nyctalopia) or problems seeing in dim or low light
- Slow eye response when switching from bright to dim light
