This depends on the type of RP. One early symptom of Retinitis Pigmentosa is difficulty seeing at night or in poor illumination. With loss of rod function there is a narrowing of the field of vision and as the degeneration gradually progresses it seems as if you are looking down a tunnel. This is why RP is sometimes called "tunnel vision".

Other symptoms includes low light to dark adaption times and poor contrast sensitivity. This inability to differentiate weak contrast affects children in the classroom -writing on the blackboard and on the overhead projector is difficult to read. This also accounts for difficulties in negotiating concrete or carpeted stairs without edge markings.