Brief plain language background
Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that causes progressive central sight loss due to damage to the macula – which is a small area in the centre of the retina, the specialised light-sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye.
The retina contains millions of light-sensing cells (photoreceptors), which are vital for healthy eyesight. In patients with Stargardt disease, the photoreceptors stop working or die – leading to sight loss that gets worse over time.
The condition is estimated to affect between one in 8,000 to 10,000 people in the UK.
What problem/knowledge gap does it help address
Stargardt disease is an inherited condition with several causative genes. This includes ABCA4 and RDH8, which provide instructions for the transportation and removal of toxic by-products called retinaldehydes from photoreceptor cells.
Retinaldehydes are formed mainly when the eye is exposed to light and their toxicity increases upon exposure to blue light.
Therefore it is important to determine the optimal glasses for protection from light-induced injury while allowing for light bright enough for vision and adjusting the internal body clock in the day/night cycle.
Using the same imaging techniques as those used clinically, the researchers have previously exposed mice eyes to different levels of light with and without the yellow filter.
Aim of the project
To use Stargardt mice models to determine at the microscopic level whether the yellow filter that blocks blue light protects the retina from light-induced injury.
The project also aims to further the career development of the applicants and research skills of the students on the project.
Key procedures/objectives
- Use microscopy and fluorescent markers to identify light exposure damage under magnification.
Potential impact on people with sight loss
There are currently no available treatments for Stargardt disease. An improved understanding of the filters that can block damaging wavelengths of light could offer some protection for those at risk from light-induced retinal injury.