How The Eye Works

The retina lies at the back of the eye. It acts like a microprocessor in a smart phone. It converts light entering the eye into an electrical signal, which is passed through the neural layer via the optic nerve to the brain.

The brain processes these signals to produce visual images.

In retinal degeneration (RD) the cells that lie at the back of the eye in the retina degenerate and incomplete messages are sent to the brain.

There are two types of photoreceptors in the retina – rods and cones. These photoreceptors are the light sensitive cells that degenerate with specific gene mutations.

Rods are used for night vision and side (peripheral) vision. Cones are concentrated mostly in the central retina and are responsible for central vision and colour vision.

Other cells in the retina may also be involved in RD – the Retinal Epithelial layer and the ganglion and bipolar cells in the neural layer.