The RPE shields the retina from excess incoming light. It supplies omega-3 fatty acids and glucose. It secretes substances to help build and sustain the choroid and retina.
The RPE shields the retina from excess incoming light. It supplies omega-3 fatty acids and glucose. It secretes substances to help build and sustain the choroid and retina.
The RPE shields the retina from excess incoming light. It supplies omega-3 fatty acids and glucose. It secretes substances to help build and sustain the choroid and retina.
Gross Description 1. Consist of single layer of cells that extends forward from the margin of the optic nerve to the ora serrata anteriorly. 2. The cells are narrow and tall in the posterior pole region and become flattened near the ora serrata. 3. On tangential section, the cells are hexagonal. 4. When seen in section, each cell consist of an outer non-pigmented epithelium part containing a large oval nucleus and an inner pigmented portion which extends as a series of straight thread-like process between the rods. Functions:
1. Light absorption - The RPE shields the retina from excess incoming light. It supplies omega-3 fatty acids and glucose.
2. Epithelial transport- This epithelial transport serves to supply nutrients to the photoreceptors (transport from the blood to the retinal side), control the ion homeostasis in the subretinal space and to eliminate water and metabolites from retinal tissue (transport from the retinal to the blood side).
3. Visual cycle- The RPE plays a crucial role in visual function, in the light adaptation. The visual cycle fulfills an essential task of maintaining visual function and needs therefore to be adapted to different visual needs such as vision in darkness or lightness
4. Phagocytosis- . Has a participation in the turnover of the outer segments of the photoreceptors and the formation of the rhodopsin and iodopsin by storing and releasing vitamin A.
5. Secretion and immune modulation- It secretes substances to help build and sustain the choroid and retina. It secretes ATP, fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, lens epithelium-derived growth factor, and pigment epithelium-derived factor.
BLOOD RETINAL BARRIER By:Patricia Myka Dayap
Blood-Ocular Barrier The eye has two barriers that prevent the entry of macromolecules, chiefly proteins, into the eye: 1. Blood Aqueous Barrier 2. Blood Retinal Barrier It is a physical barrier between the local blood vessels and most parts of the eye itself, and stops many substances including drugs from traveling across it. Inflammation can break down this barrier allowing drugs and large molecules to penetrate into the eye.
Blood-Retinal Barrier (BRB)
The blood-retina barrier is formed by the retinal pigment epithelium and the endothelium of the retinal blood vessels. Adjacent cells of each are joined by tight junctions called as zonulae occludentes to prevent certain substances from entering the retina. It consists of non-fenestrated capillaries of the retinal circulation and tight- junctions between retinal epithelial cells preventing passage of large molecules from choriocapillaris into the retina. Function: It regulates fluids and molecular movement between the ocular vascular beds and retinal tissues and prevents leakage into the retina of macromolecules and other potentially harmful agents. Structure: The blood retinal barrier has two components: Retinal blood vessels maintains the inner blood-ocular barrier. The retinal pigment epithelium maintains the outer bloodretinal barrier
Blood-Retinal Barrier Breakdown Diabetic retinopathy - An eye damage that frequently occurs as a result of diabetes, is related to the breakdown of the bloodretinal barrier. - The barrier becomes more leaky in patients with diabetic retinopathy Signs and Symptoms:
First stage which is called non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) there are no symptoms, it is not visible to the naked eye and patients will have 20/20 vision. The only way to detect NPDR is by fundus photography.
second stage, as abnormal new blood vessels (neovascularisation) form at the back of the eye as a part of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), they can burst and bleed (vitreous hemorrhage) and blur vision, because the new blood vessels are weak. Treatment: Scatter (pan-retinal) photocoagulation. Scatter treatment is used to slow the growth of new abnormal blood vessels that have developed over a wider area of the retina.
Diabetic macular edema (DME)
occurs when blood vessels in the retina of patients with diabetes begin to leak into the macula, the part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision. These leaks cause the macula to thicken and swell, progressively distorting acute vision. While the swelling may not lead to blindness, the effect can cause a severe loss in central vision. DME is the major cause of vision loss in people with diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes have a 10 percent risk of developing the condition during their lifetime. Treatment Laser photocoagulation is a retinal procedure in which a laser is used to cauterize leaky blood vessels or to apply a pattern of burns to reduce edema.
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (ARMD) By: Kristine Nicole Ramos
Mainly affects the older generation. It can affect people over 50years of age. It is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye's macula. The macula is a small area in the retina the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for your central vision, allowing you to see fine details clearly.
2 Types of ARMD:
Dry AMD
The "dry" form of macular degeneration is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula. A few small drusen may not cause changes in vision; however, as they grow in size and increase in number, they may lead to a dimming or distortion of vision that people find most noticeable when they read.
Wet AMD In the 'wet' form, abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye leads to the leaking of blood and proteins into the sensitive cells (called photoreceptors) in the macula, damaging them and causing vision loss. The wet form is the condition in its advanced stage.
Role of RPE in ARMD: o The RPE is responsible for maintaining the extracellular matrix and the activity of the photoreceptors. o The primary cause of AMD is thought to be the degeneration of a layer of specialised cells called retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) o The RPE, melanin granules diminish, and lipofuscin granules form. o As we age, Bruchs membrane tends to accumulate debris in the elastin lamina and also drusen between the collagen layer and RPE basal lamina. o This debris accumulation causes a reduction in the permeability of Bruchs membrane. o This will hinder the pumping of waste from inside to outside of the eye by the RPE and may cause pigment epithelial detachments.
PARTS OF RETINAL PIGMENTED EPITHELIUM By: Aaron Jake De Leon & Charisse Visca
1. Base- adjacent to the curricular portion of Bruchs Membrane to which its basement membrane is firmly attached. The base contains prominent infolding of the basal plasma membrane, many mitochondria, and a little or no pigment. It contains: (Plasma membrane and mitochondria) 2. Body- contains the cell nucleus, many organelles and lipofuscin. The lipofuscin become prominent in the retinal pigment epithelium underlying the central retina in individuals older than 30 years. It contains: (Nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, lipofuscin) 3. Apices-are topped with microvilli in which the outer segments of the rods and cones are imbedded in the interphotoreceptor matrix. There are no specialized attachments between the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium. The lateral surfaces of the apices of adjacent cells (but not the microvilli) are bound together by terminal bars that are composed of a basilar portion and an apical portion. There is no Intracellular space at the level of these junctions, and together with the non- fenestrated retinal blood vessels they constitute the blood-retinal barrier. Apical portion: It makes contact loosely with sensory retina through numerous Microvillus and concentrated with melanin granules. Apex(pigmented, ingested outer segment) It contains: 1. Microvilli 2. Lateral terminal bars ( Zonula Adherens and zonula occludens ) The zonula occludens (ZO) (Tight Junction) occupied very large, macular gap junctions occur within the region. The zonula adherens (ZA) (Intermediate Junction) in adult chicken retinal pigment epithelium was examined with cryo-electron microscopic methods. Deep-etching of the cross-fractured ZA showed globules in the intercellular space