Histologic Photoreceptor and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Degeneration in an Eye With Clinically Documented Geographic Atrophy of AMD

Key Points

• To investigate the histologic changes in an eye with geographic atrophy (GA) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Conducted a clinicopathologic correlation analysis of an AMD eye with known GA growth rate.
• Measured areas of photoreceptor shortening and RPE loss using composite metrics.
• Examined mitochondrial changes at the ELM.
• The area of photoreceptor degeneration exceeds the area of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss.
• Photoreceptor degeneration starts from outer segments and progresses inward.
• Dysmorphic yet continuous RPE was observed at the OJZ.

Abstract