cycle

Rpe65 is necessary for production of 11-cis-vitamin A in the retinal visual cycle. Nat Genet.

These strategies include (a) choroidal perfusion enhancers; (b) neuroprotection; (c) reduction of toxic byproducts; (d) visual cycle modulation; (e) suppression of inflammation; (f) stem cell replacement [Figure 2].[sup][10]{Figure 2}

The increased defect in scotopic function in AMD is likely to be caused by a combination of reduced rod numbers in the disease as described previously, (8,9) and an additional slowing of the normal physiology of the rod visual cycle exacerbated by the retinal changes at the RPE where drusen and pigmentary changes typical of the disease further reduce the function of the RPE in maintaining the normal visual cycle.

Rhodopsin is the photo-pigment that is abundantly found in retina and plays an important role in the visual cycle [24].

The gene normally makes a critical protein in the visual cycle. Without this RPE65 protein, light-sensitive photoreceptor cells are starved of a retina-specific form of vitamin A and cannot function, blocking vision.