The retinal dystrophies are an individually rare but collectively common cause of progressive visual loss in children and adults.^6,7,12 Treatment is currently limited to visual aids and rehabilitation. In light of recent advances in understanding these conditions at the molecular level, there is a realistic prospect that soon, gene therapies and novel pharmaceutical agents will become available that will purport to prevent, arrest, or ameliorate retinal degeneration.^1,36 In addition, it has been suggested that dietary or vitamin supplements might be useful in working against disease progression in certain individuals.⁵