As of mid-2026, retinitis pigmentosa treatment in India has moved well past plain supportive care. Stem cell injections, structured nutritional plans, and gene therapy trials are now part of the conversation. A full cure? Still not here. But these newer modalities slow down the disease and bring back some vision in patients who qualify. Current treatment covers vitamin A palmitate at high doses, omega-3 protocols, intravitreal autologous bone marrow stem cell injections, plus the usual care for cataract and cystoid macular oedema that show up alongside RP. And on the advanced side, voretigene neparvovec gene therapy is being used for RPE65 mutations, retinal prosthesis evaluation is offered at select centres, and patients are getting screened for trials covering mesenchymal stem cells, optogenetics, and CRISPR-based gene editing.

According to Dr. Mayank Bansal, Best Eye Hospital in Delhi, Genetic testing has to come first because the mutation itself tells us whether a patient is eligible for gene therapy, fits into a stem cell trial, or needs a supportive protocol instead.

What Current Treatment Options Are Available for Retinitis Pigmentosa in India?

Treatment paths split based on the mutation identified, how advanced the disease is, and what’s left of the visual field.

• Gene therapy: Voretigene neparvovec works only for patients with biallelic RPE65 mutations, and it’s delivered as a subretinal injection at a handful of Indian centres equipped for it.
• Nutrition support: Vitamin A palmitate at 15,000 IU daily, paired with DHA-rich fish oil, has shown a modest slowing of ERG decline in adults with typical RP forms. Specialist supervision is non-negotiable.
• Cataract surgery: RP patients tend to develop posterior subcapsular cataracts earlier than the general population, and pulling them out often gives back useful central vision.
• Oedema control: When cystoid macular oedema builds up, treatment starts with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Dorzolamide drops, acetazolamide tablets. Intravitreal injections come in if those don’t settle things.

So treatment isn’t one fixed protocol. It’s a layered plan, which is why genetic testing for retinal dystrophies sits at the start of every clinical pathway.

How Can Patients Access Stem Cell Therapy and Clinical Trials in India?

Trial access in India depends on confirmed mutation status, current disease stage, and how well the patient fits the inclusion criteria of each ongoing study.

• Genetic registry: Next-generation sequencing across 300-plus retinal dystrophy genes is the first step because sponsors won’t screen anyone without a documented pathogenic variant on record.
• Stem cell trials: Intravitreal injection of autologous bone marrow or umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells is happening through registered phase I and II trials. Safety data so far looks reasonable in advanced RP patients.
• Optogenetics: Light-sensitive proteins delivered through an intravitreal injection are being tested in patients with very low vision. The screening cut-off is tight.
• Retinal implants: Epiretinal prosthesis is still on the table for people with profound vision loss, but only if OCT scans show the inner retinal layers are still intact.

Once a patient clears screening, they move into structured follow-up with ERG, OCT, and visual field testing at fixed intervals. For more detail, read our piece on gene therapy with Voretigene Neparvovec.

Why Choose Dr. Mayank Bansal?

Dr. Mayank Bansal trained at AIIMS Delhi, holds FRCS (Glasgow), FAICO, and completed his ICO Retina Fellowship at UCLA. Fifteen-plus years of clinical work behind him. His research in genomics and CRISPR gene editing for retinal disease puts Dr. Mayank Bansal in a small group of Indian retina specialists actively working on inherited retinal disorders at this depth.

Patients walking in with retinitis pigmentosa get genetic counselling, a mutation-specific plan, and direct support if they want to pursue a trial. No vague promises. Just clear, mutation-guided care.