Preface: The aging eye: normal changes, age-related diseases, and sight-saving approaches

Abstract

This volume presents articles based on a workshop held June 14 to 16, 2013 in Rancho Palos Verde, CA sponsored by the Ocular Research Symposia Foundation (ORSF). The mission of the ORSF is to focus attention on unmet needs and current research opportunities in eye research with the objective of accelerating translation of research findings to effective clinical care. In this workshop, the subject of the "The Aging Eye" was addressed, including the prevalence of eye diseases in aging and the economic burden imposed by these diseases. New research work was highlighted on the genetics, biology, biochemistry, neurochemistry, and the impact of nutrition and the environment on function in the older eye. By identifying "low-hanging fruit" (i.e., the best opportunities for successful transition of laboratory research for the prevention of and new treatments and cures for ocular diseases), we seek to spur funding at both the basic research and clinical levels, resulting in sight-saving and sight-restoration measures in the near future.

Keywords: aging; eye; nutrition.

Figure

A schematic view of the tissues of the eye. Light passes through the transparent cornea and the opening in the center of the iris called the pupil. Then, it passes through the clear lens and the vitreous body, which fills the central cavity of the eye. When the optical properties of the cornea and lens are normal, the light is focused on the foveal (macula) area of the neural retina, and is captured by the retinal photoreceptor cells where it is converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is processed by other retinal cells and transmitted down the optic nerve to specific brain areas. These areas do the final conversion of the signals into a visual image. Marieb, Elaine N. Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. 9th edition. Copyright 2009. Printed and electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.