Retinal Degenerations

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Living with Retinal Degeneration

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Coping With Retinal Degeneration

      • Gordon Cousins, James Cape

      Pages 3-20

3. Degenerative Diseases of the Retina

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21

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   2. Epidemiology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Early in the 21st Century

      • Jie Jin Wang, Paul Mitchell, Ronald Klein

      Pages 23-59

   3. Leber Congenital Amaurosis

      • Robert K. Koenekoop

      Pages 61-90

   4. Macular Degeneration

      • Peter E. Liggett, Alejandro J. Lavaque

      Pages 91-103

   5. Stargardt Disease

      • Rando Allikmets

      Pages 105-118

   6. X-Linked Juvenile Retinoschisis

      • Bernhard H. F. Weber, Ulrich Kellner

      Pages 119-135

   7. Retinal Degeneration in Usher Syndrome

      • David S. Williams

      Pages 137-148

   8. Mouse Models of RP

      • Bo Chang, Norman L. Hawes, Muriel T. Davisson, J. R. Heckenlively

      Pages 149-161

4. Mechanisms Underlying Retinal Degenerations

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 163-163

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   2. The Impact of Diabetes on Neuronal, Glial, and Vascular Cells of the Retina

      • Sylvia B. Smith

      Pages 165-183

   3. Statins and Age-Related Maculopathy

      • Gerald McGwin Jr, Cynthia Owsley

      Pages 185-196

   4. The Role of Drusen in Macular Degeneration and New Methods of Quantification

      • R. Theodore Smith, Ahmad Umer F.

      Pages 197-211

   5. RPE Lipofuscin

      • Janet R. Sparrow

      Pages 213-236

   6. Genetic Modifiers That Affect Phenotypic Expression of Retinal Diseases

      • Malia M. Edwards, Dennis M. Maddox, Jungyeon Won, Jürgen K. Naggert, Patsy M. Nishina

      Pages 237-255

   7. X-Linked Retinal Dystrophies and Microtubular Functions Within the Retina

      • Alan F. Wright, Xinhua Shu

      Pages 257-267

   8. Synaptic Remodeling in Retinal Degeneration

      • You-Wei Peng, Fulton Wong

      Pages 269-289

5. Developing Therapeutic Strategies for Retinal Degenerative Diseases

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 291-291

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For centuries, humans have tried to explain the complex process of vision and find effective treatments for eye diseases. Perhaps the oldest surviving record of ancient ophthalmic practices is the Babylonian code of Hammurabi that over 4000 years ago, mentioned fees for eye surgery—and penalties for unsuccessful operations that led to loss of the eye. Babylonian medicine was controlled by priests who directed the work of skilled surgeons. The earliest records of Egyptian medicine date from almost the same time. The Ebers Papyrus, dating back to more than 3500 years ago is a superbly preserved document in which a section outlines a relatively advanced system of diagnosis and treatment of various ocular pathologies. The text reveals that ancient Greek and Egyptian physicians prescribed “liver juice” for night blindness. This was obtained from roasted and crushed ox liver. We now know that their prescription contained a remarkable amount of vitamin A. It was only within the last century, however, that we have recognized the importance of vitamin A to the function of photoreceptors and visual acuity and that its deficiency can result in night blindness. Egyptian ophthalmological practices were held in high esteem in the ancient world and so were their medical institutes, called “peri-ankh,” which existed since the first dynasty. Herodotus, the fifth century BC Greek historian, comments on the specialization of the physicians: “Each physician treats just one disease.

• aging
• apoptosis
• biology
• cell
• death
• diabetes
• diagnostics
• genetics
• macular degeneration
• mutation
• protein
• receptor
• retina
• stem cell
• stem cells

From the reviews:

"This book is a comprehensive review of the retinal degenerations, focusing particularly on a range of macular degenerations and the inherited retinal dystrophies. … is essential reading for even the experienced low vision clinician and anyone wishing to understand the difficulties faced by patients who are diagnosed with sight-threatening retinal conditions. … will be of interest to research groups. … This is a valuable book and is essential for low vision clinicians. I recommend it to any optometrist with a particular interest in retinal disease." (Michael Kalloniatis, Clinical and Experimental Optometry, Issue 91, November, 2008)

• Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

  Joyce Tombran-Tink, Colin J. Barnstable

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