ABSTRACT
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) derives its name from the central area of the retina, the macula, where the destructive effects of this disease, ultimately its effects on photoreceptors, are the most pronounced. This is despite the presence of several defense mechanisms that are concentrated in the center of the retina, such as the carotenoids that form the macula lutea (yellow spot). Although both genetic and environmental risk factors appear to play a role in the etiology of the disease, their immediate effects may be the promotion of, or inability to counteract, oxidative damage and inflammation. The presence of photosensitizers in the retina, such as A2E, together with the relatively intense, short-wavelength, focused light to which the retina is subjected, means that much of the oxidative damage may be photooxidative in nature. Certainly, ambient light exposure in the long term has been associated with an increased risk of AMD in some studies. However, since AMD damage tends to be largely concentrated in the central retina, a legitimate question is whether the
12.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 223 12.2 Materials and Methods .................................................................................226
