Using cell transplants or stem cells to treat a retinal degenerative disease.

Determining how and why disease begins, and ultimately using this information to design an effective, targeted treatment.

The "central command system" of the body, it includes the brain, spine and retina.

A sheet of blood vessels behind the retina that brings oxygen and nutrients and removes waste. In wet AMD, blood vessels from the choroid grow into the retina, leak and cause damage.

Choroideremia is a rare inherited disorder that causes progressive loss of vision due to degeneration of the choroid and retina.

A "package" of DNA that holds the genetic code to life. In humans, each non-sex cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Cilia are very small, hair-like structures that are found in or on many specialized cell types (for example, photoreceptors and ear, kidney, and lung cells). A mutation in a gene whose protein helps maintain the structure of these "hairs" can cause diseases with symptoms in one or more affected body systems, creating a syndrome. For example, some Usher syndromes involve vision and hearing problems, caused by altered cilia proteins found in both photoreceptors and ear cochlear cells.

A ring of tissue that contains muscles and "fibers" that adjust lens thickness to focus light on the retina, so that we can see. In addition, it produces fluid to provide nutrients and take away waste from the lens and cornea, thus helping to control eye pressure.

see Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

A type of photoreceptor, it detects light and is responsible for providing fine detail, daylight and color vision.

see Achromatopsia

Cone-rod dystrophy results from a primary loss of cone photoreceptors, followed by loss of rods.

An inherited eye disorder that is not progressive ("stationary") and principally affects the rod photoreceptors in the retina, impairing night vision.

A nutritional mineral that is required for proper functioning and maintenance of the body.

The clear dome or "window" that covers the front of the eye, it provides a large part of the focusing ability of the eye.

An implant into the part of the brain that interprets vision signals that come from the retina. Connecting this implant with a vision aide, like camera-glasses, may be a way to return vision to those who are blind.

see Congenital Stationary Night Blindness

A healthy, highly unsaturated fatty acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) that is found in foods (e.g., tuna, salmon) and dietary supplements, implicated in photoreceptor function.

The chemical "blueprint" for life. Genes are made of DNA and gene mutations can cause diseases.

see DHA