Pennies for the Blind was founded after the founder’s experience of taking care of her great grandmother when she was little. Her great grandmother had Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare hereditary eye disease. She began to learn how to care for her and the challenges blindness brings, and she wanted to help others conquer the same difficulties that her great grandmother did. RP is a disease which gradually affects the retina, in the back of the eye. Over time, peripheral vision is lost, and central vision may also be lost, much like tunnel vision. In some cases, vision may be affected at night, sensitivity to bright lights may increase, or loss of color vision may occur. Most cases are genetic, but some medications, infections, or eye injuries are uncommon causes. The National Eye Institute and Foundation Fighting Blindness are researching possible treatments.
For more information about RP, please visit https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinitis-pigmentosa.
