Lab-grown aging eye model reveals early AMD markers in weeks

Article excerpt

Researchers have developed a lab-grown model of the aging eye that can reveal early markers of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a matter of weeks. The breakthrough focuses on retinal pigment epithelium cells, which support the rods and cones responsible for vision but deteriorate under environmental stress, genetic factors, and aging. By compressing what typically takes years into a shorter timeframe, the lab model could accelerate the discovery of treatments for AMD, a leading cause of blindness. The advance offers scientists a way to study how these caretaker cells fail and potentially identify interventions before vision loss occurs.