Madison Maidenberg, a contestant on the latest season of Netflix's Love Is Blind, has revealed she has a rare eye condition that may eventually cause blindness. The 28-year-old UX/UI designer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) seven years ago and has since worked with the Foundation Fighting Blindness to raise awareness.
On the show, Madison explained that her diagnosis makes the experiment more meaningful as it simulates a future with vision loss. She said she knows what she needs in a partner given her condition. In bright light, her vision is relatively good, but her peripheral vision is weak, making it difficult to see below someone's nose when looking into their eyes. Dim lighting, such as in restaurants, also poses challenges.
Boots Opticians optometrist Opinder Malhi described RP as a group of eye conditions affecting the retina's rod and cone cells. Rod cells help with low-light vision, while cone cells handle detail and colour. Symptoms typically emerge between ages 10 and 30 and include difficulty seeing in poor light, gradual narrowing of peripheral vision, and 'tunnel vision'. Central vision is initially unaffected, but those with RP are more prone to developing cataracts at a younger age.
RP can be caused by a genetic mutation or inherited from parents. The rate of progression depends on the specific gene involved. There is currently no cure, but some patients may benefit from gene therapy available on the NHS if their genetic mutation qualifies. Malhi noted that many with RP retain useful central vision well into middle age.
