所有类型的 RP 的发病率约为 1/4000。[7]Bunker CH, Berson EL, Bromley WC, et al. Prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa in Maine. Am J Ophthalmol. 1984;97:357-365.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6702974?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Haim M. Epidemiology of retinitis pigmentosa in Denmark. Acta Ophthalmol Scand Suppl. 2002;(233):1-34.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11921605?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Bundey S, Crews SJ. A study of retinitis pigmentosa in the City of Birmingham: I Prevalence. J Med Genet. 1984;21:417-420.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1049340/pdf/jmedgene00104-0017.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6512829?tool=bestpractice.com该疾病的发病率在全世界均是相似的。[10]Vinchurkar MS, Sathye SM, Dikshit M. Retinitis pigmentosa genetics: a study in Indian population. Indian J Ophthalmol. 1996;44:77-82.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8916593?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Hu DN. Prevalence and mode of inheritance of major genetic eye diseases in China. J Med Genet. 1987;24:584-588.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1050283/pdf/jmedgene00084-0008.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3500313?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Ayuso C, Garcia-Sandoval B, Najera C, et al. Retinitis pigmentosa in Spain: the Spanish Multicentric and Multidisciplinary Group for Research into Retinitis Pigmentosa. Clin Genet. 1995;48:120-122.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8556816?tool=bestpractice.com据报道该疾病在瑞士的发病率最低(1/7000) [13]Ammann F, Klein D, Franceschetti A. Genetic and epidemiological investigations on pigmentary degeneration of the retina and allied disorders in Switzerland. J Neurol Sci. 1965;2:183-196.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5878602?tool=bestpractice.com在美国的发病率最高(1/1878)。[14]Heckenlively J, Friederich R, Farson C, et al. Retinitis pigmentosa in the Navajo. Metab Pediatr Ophthalmol. 1981;5:201-206.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7311662?tool=bestpractice.com常染色体显性 (ADRP)、常染色体隐性 (ARRP) 和 X染色体-连锁 (XLRP) RP 的比率因地区的不同而相对不同。在缅因州的一项研究中,ADRP、ARRP和 XLRP的患病构成分别为 19%、 65% 和 8%。[7]Bunker CH, Berson EL, Bromley WC, et al. Prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa in Maine. Am J Ophthalmol. 1984;97:357-365.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6702974?tool=bestpractice.com在中国的一项研究中,ADRP、和XLRP的患病构成仅为 5.2%和 3.0%,而ARRP 则高达 91.8%。[11]Hu DN. Prevalence and mode of inheritance of major genetic eye diseases in China. J Med Genet. 1987;24:584-588.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1050283/pdf/jmedgene00084-0008.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3500313?tool=bestpractice.com在英国的系列研究中,ADRP、XLRP和ARRP的患病构成比分别为39%、25% 和 36%。[15]Jay M. On the heredity of retinitis pigmentosa. Br J Ophthalmol. 1982;66:405-416.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1039814/pdf/brjopthal00175-0011.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7093178?tool=bestpractice.com发病年龄有较大的差异并且取决于突变的基因。尽管女性也可能是携带者,X染色体-连锁 RP 仅影响男性。