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Culprit identified as a major cause of vision loss

Finding may lead to treatments for retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa
September 27, 2016
Retina Retinitis Pigmentosa
Basic Research
Grantee

The eye’s retina works like film in a camera. The retina’s rods sense dim light, while cone cells detect colors, contrasts and sharp images seen during daylight. A wide range of disorders can damage those rods and cones and lead to vision loss. But now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a pathway involved in harming rods and cones and have found a way to halt that damage.

Targeting the pathway with therapies could save sight in patients with many types of retinal disorders, including those for which there are no treatments, such as retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration.

Read more at Washington University School of Medicine News