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Where Is The Problem?
The retina is a multi-layer system composed of photoreceptors, support cells and neurons. The photoreceptors capture light and change it to an electrical signal that is sent through a series of neurons to the brain. The cell layer underneath the photoreceptors is called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and in ARMD it degenerates. Why specifically the RPE in the macular region degenerates and not elsewhere is still unclear. The RPE has a multitude of functions, including nourishing the photoreceptors and removing the waste products of the photoreceptors. It likely also maintains a tissue found between the RPE and the choroidal blood vessels called Bruch's membrane. The actual function of Bruch's membrane is unclear, but its separation of the choroidal vessels from the RPE is important.
Picture #2 Normal Arch
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