•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

molecular pathology, macular degeneration, lipofuscin-generated apoptosis, AMD, retinal pigment epithelial, RPE

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in the elderly and is currently untreatable. In the central region of the posterior retina (the macula), AMD is caused by damage to and subsequent death of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and, consequently, the photoreceptors that are attached to them, leading to vision loss. The current thinking in the field of ophthalmology is that the eye cannot function efficiently after 50-60+ years of continuously repairing damage caused by exposure to high-energy photons from blue light. The increase in average human life span correlates with a higher prevalence of AMD.

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS