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  • Anomalies in distal con axon may indicate susceptibility to AMD

    By Patricia Chévez-Barrios, MD
    Ocular Pathology/Oncology

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    The macular region was excised from 18 donor eyes (aged 22-96 years), cryosectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin or double immunolabeled using opsin antibodies or synaptic markers.

     Three of eight donor eyes had AMD lesions, and abnormal immunoreactivity to cone opsin was present in all eyes but localized to nonfoveal regions in non-AMD eyes. This may indicate that AMD susceptibility is related to opsin redistribution and distal cone axon anomalies.

     Integrated cone functions-including contrast sensitivity, color matching, and short wavelength- sensitive cone sensitivity-may be most reliable prognostic indicators of progression in AMD.

     

    Financial Disclosures
    Dr. Chévez-Barrios receives grant support from the Children's Oncology Group, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.