Living with diabetes since childhood has made medical check-ups a regular part of my life. I was used to monitoring my blood sugar, following dietary advice and taking my prescribed medicines. However, I was not prepared for the vision problems that eventually led to my diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

This is my Retinitis Pigmentosa patient story how I noticed the early changes, learned to manage diabetes and RP together, and sought personalised vision care at Sanjeevan Netralaya in Hyderabad.

My Life With Diabetes

I was diagnosed with diabetes at a very young age. As I grew older, I became more disciplined about blood sugar tests, medicines, food choices and regular medical appointments. I also knew that diabetes could affect the eyes, so whenever I noticed a change in my vision, I assumed it was another diabetes-related eye problem.

Diabetes can affect different parts of the eye, including the retina. High blood sugar over time can damage retinal blood vessels and contribute to diabetic eye disease, which is why regular retinal examinations remain important for people with diabetes.

The First Changes in My Vision

My first noticeable problem was difficulty seeing at night. Walking through a dimly lit room became harder, and my eyes took longer to adjust when I moved from a bright area into darkness.

Later, I started missing objects at the sides of my vision. I sometimes bumped into chairs, doorframes or people standing beside me. At first, I blamed tiredness, fluctuating blood sugar or poor lighting.

When these problems became more frequent, I booked a detailed eye examination. The tests showed that my symptoms were not caused only by diabetes. I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited retinal disorder that commonly affects night vision and peripheral vision as it progresses.

Understanding Retinitis Pigmentosa

Before my diagnosis, I had barely heard of RP. I learned that Retinitis Pigmentosa is a group of inherited retinal conditions that gradually affect the light-sensitive cells of the retina. The condition can make it difficult to see in low light and may slowly narrow a person's visual field.

Hearing that RP was progressive frightened me. I worried about whether I would be able to work independently, travel safely and manage everyday tasks in the future. I also worried that diabetes might make my retinal health more complicated.

Living With RP and Diabetes

Managing diabetes and Retinitis Pigmentosa together required me to stop treating every vision problem as if it had the same cause. RP and diabetic eye disease are different conditions, even though both involve the retina and may affect vision.

Published evidence about people living with both diabetes and RP is limited. Case reports show that diabetic retinal complications can occur in patients who also have Retinitis Pigmentosa, so having RP should not be treated as protection from diabetes-related eye damage.

I therefore continued my diabetes care, blood sugar monitoring and regular retinal examinations.

Searching for RP Care

After the diagnosis, I began searching for Retinitis Pigmentosa treatment in Hyderabad. I wanted a Retinitis Pigmentosa specialist in Hyderabad who understood inherited retinal conditions and could also consider my long-term diabetes history.

During my research, I found Sanjeevan Netralaya. Its Hyderabad centre offers personalised consultations and Ayurvedic eye care for retinal conditions, including Retinitis Pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy. The hospital also has dedicated information about its approach to RP and vision preservation.

My First Visit

I felt nervous when I visited Sanjeevan Netralaya for the first time. I carried my previous retinal reports, prescriptions, diabetes records and a list of the vision problems I had noticed.

During the consultation, I explained my difficulty seeing at night, reduced side vision and concern about diabetes and retinal health. The discussion considered my RP diagnosis, general health, existing medicines and daily challenges.

I also asked whether Ayurvedic eye treatment would replace my diabetes medicines or regular retinal monitoring. It was important for me to understand that supportive Ayurvedic care should fit alongside—not automatically replace—the treatment and follow-up already advised by my doctors.

Setting Realistic Expectations

I did not visit Sanjeevan Netralaya expecting an RP cure or complete vision recovery. One of Sanjeevan Netralaya's own RP pages acknowledges that there is currently no cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa while describing its specialised Ayurvedic approach and supportive care.

My goals were therefore practical: to understand my condition better, support my remaining vision, monitor changes and learn how to manage everyday life safely.

Any claim about Retinitis Pigmentosa vision improvement should be based on documented clinical tests—not only on how a patient feels after treatment.

My Care Journey

My Retinitis Pigmentosa care journey involved personalised consultations, supportive Ayurvedic eye care and follow-up assessments. At the same time, I continued monitoring my blood sugar and following the diabetes plan prescribed by my treating doctor.

I also made practical changes at home. I improved the lighting in frequently used areas, kept furniture and personal items in fixed places and became more careful when walking at night. I started telling family members when I needed assistance instead of trying to hide my difficulties.

These changes did not remove RP, but they helped me feel safer and more confident. The greatest benefit of my treatment journey was becoming more informed, organised and consistent about both diabetic eye care and RP management.

What I Learned

Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa and diabetes has taught me several important lessons:

• Do not ignore difficulty seeing at night or a gradual loss of side vision.

  
  

• Do not assume every eye symptom is caused by diabetes.

  
  

• Get a complete retinal examination and ask for a clear diagnosis.

  
  

• Continue prescribed diabetes medicines and blood sugar management.

  
  

• Ask what any proposed RP treatment can and cannot realistically achieve.

  
  

• Keep copies of retinal scans, visual-field reports and prescriptions.

  
  

• Treat every Retinitis Pigmentosa success story as an individual experience, not a guaranteed outcome.

My Experience With Sanjeevan Netralaya

My experience at Sanjeevan Netralaya helped me feel more supported while living with a complex retinal condition. The Hyderabad centre, located on S.D. Road in Secunderabad, provides consultations for Retinitis Pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, optic atrophy and other retinal concerns.

For anyone exploring Ayurvedic eye treatment in Hyderabad, my advice is to carry all existing medical records, explain every health condition and ask how the suggested plan will work with ongoing medical care.

People living with RP and diabetes need regular monitoring, realistic expectations and coordinated care rather than promises of instant recovery.

Other Services at Sanjeevan Netralaya

Along with Retinitis Pigmentosa care, Sanjeevan Netralaya lists diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma-related optic nerve problems, retinal vein and artery occlusions, Stargardt disease, rod-cone dystrophy, macular hole, optic atrophy and other retinal conditions among its areas of care.

These services may be relevant to patients seeking diabetic eye care in Hyderabad, Ayurvedic retina care or consultation for complex retinal disorders.

OUR LOCATIONS

• MUMBAI

UNIT No. 114, 1ST FLOOR, PRABHADEVI INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, OPPOSITE SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE & KAMAT HOTEL, PRABHADEVI, MUMBAI - 400025.

+91 9769067570

• DELHI

53/5, 3RD FLOOR DESH BANDHU GUPTA ROAD, OPPO. MANAS MANDIR, ABOVE GREAT EASTERN RETAIL, KAROL BAGH, NEW DELHI – 110005 

+91 7042122881

• BENGALURU

736, 60TH CROSS, 5TH BLOCK, BHASHYAM CIRCLE, RAJAJINAGAR, BENGALURU - 560010, India

+91 8904841288

• HYDERABAD

NO: 9-1-77/3, PLOT NO: 31, 1ST FLOOR, OPP. MADHAVA NURSING HOME LANE, BESIDE ST MARY'S CHURCH LANE, NEAR ITC BUILDING, S.D ROAD, SECUNDERABAD, TELANGANA - 500003.

+91  8099621413

• PUNE

303, 3RD FLOOR, SNEHGANGA COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, NEAR VEGA CENTER, SANKARSETH ROAD, SWARGATE, PUNE – 411042

India.

+91 8956088033