ocular toxicology

RGCs and Photoreceptors

what retinal cells are most affected by toxicants?

cataracts

what is a disease of the lens?

coloboma

what is a disease of the iris?

inflammation

what is a disease of the cornea or sclera?

glaucoma

what is a disease of the vitreous humor?

-Retina pigmentosa
-Macular degeneration

what are the two major diseases of photoreceptors?

-Glaucoma
-Retina Neuropathy
-Optic Neuritis

what are the three major diseases of RGCs?

optic nerve cell injury (pinching of the optic nerve)

what is a glaucoma?

external exposure or systemic circulation

how is the eye exposed to toxicants?

lens

lead is especially dangerous to what part of the eye?

iris

teratogens are especially dangerous to what part of the eye?

vitreous fluid

formic acid is especially dangerous to what part of the eye?

Overexposure to UV light damages corneal epithelium and exposes the underlying sensory nerve plexus (Pain!!!).

what is photokeratitis?

bipolar and amacrine cells

prenatal lead exposure may affect which cells?

optic nerve

what is the site of toxic optic neuropathies?

RGCs have long axons that require significant nutritional and energy support from mitochondria and support cells

why are RGCs more susceptible to toxicants?

Demyelination

Hypothesis: __________ precedes retinal ganglion cell degeneration and death

oligodendrocytes

(which produce myelin covering)

Chronic loss of _________ will lead to retinal ganglion cell death and permanent loss of vision.

• Fundoscopy
• Fluorescein Angiography (inject blood vessels with dye
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT

what are three non-invasive tools for retina analysis.