The Eyes Shut Homolog (EYS) gene is a major cause of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited retinal disease that can lead to blindness. The EYS gene is located on chromosome 6 and is the largest gene in the human eye. The EYS gene is complex because it's divided into two halves, which may have different roles and interactors. Symptoms of RP include night blindness and loss of side vision, and often begin in childhood. At this time, there's no cure for RP, but medications can help treat complications. RP is the most common form of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) and affects more than one million people worldwide. The age of onset for RP can vary widely, from under 20 to well into the 50s.
