What are the odds that I will pass the RP gene on to my children?
“Deciding whether or not to have children is a personal decision that everyone with RP has to make, and it is not an easy one,” says Diane Ryan, who has RP. Although she did not know her own diagnosis until after her children were born, she has shared her sons’ struggles with the decision of whether to take the risk of passing an RP gene to their offspring. You can get the best information about the likely inheritance pattern of the disease in your own family by consulting with a genetic counselor or eye care professional who specializes in hereditary retinal degenerations. They can help you learn how the disease is inherited in your family and the chance of passing it on to your children. Most of the Research Centers receiving support from The Foundation Fighting Blindness provide genetic counseling as part of their diagnostic evaluation. The Foundation can also provide a list of genetic counseling information services. If you would like to receive this material, please contact The Fo
