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Photoreceptors compromised after drusen formation
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Retinal cells overlying both soft and hard drusen have both structural and molecular abnormalities indicative of photoreceptor degeneration, according to a study. Because the abnormalities are confined to areas directly overlying the drusen, the study authors suggest that photoreceptor cell function is compromised as a result of drusen formation.
Patrick T. Johnson and colleagues with the Center for the Study of Macular Degeneration took tissue containing retina and retinal pigment epithelium/choroid from human donor eyes to determine the impact of drusen on overlying retinal cells. Sections were immunostained with antibodies that indicated glial cells and first-, second- and third-order retinal neurons and that processed for confocal microscopy.
Both soft and hard drusen were associated with a similar spectrum of effects in both macular and extramacular regions. Second- and third-order neurons all appeared unaffected. The structural and molecular abnormalities observed in photoreceptors and glial cells were confined to retinal regions directly overlying and immediately adjacent to drusen. More distant retinal regions appeared undisturbed. Significant abnormalities were observed over small subclinical drusen.
The study is published in the October issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.