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Klinische, morphologische und molekularbiologische Charakteristika des alternden Auges

Clinical, morphological and molecular biological characteristics of the aging eye

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A Leserbriefe to this article was published on 19 May 2017

Zusammenfassung

Grundlagen

Das alternde visuelle System geht mit einer Visusverschlechterung einher. Altersbedingte Veränderungen können in relevante ophthalmologische Erkrankungen übergehen. Ziel der Arbeit ist eine Darstellung von klinischen, morphologischen und molekularbiologischen Veränderungen des alternden Auges.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden eine webbasierte Recherche sowie Sichtung ophthalmologischer Fachliteratur zum alternden Auge insbesondere zu Hornhaut, Linse, Glaskörper, Retina, retinales Pigmentepithel, Choroidea und Sehnerv durchgeführt. Die Literaturrecherche wurde in Form des vorliegenden Beitrags zusammengefasst.

Ergebnisse

Altersbedingte Veränderungen lassen sich in den brechenden optischen Medien wie Hornhaut und Linse sowie in neuronalen Anteilen wie der Retina nachweisen. Neben Charakteristika ohne klinische Relevanz zeigen sich Veränderungen, die in pathologische Konditionen übergehen können. Diese Übergänge zu relevanten ophthalmologischen Erkrankungen wie Katarakt und altersabhängige Makuladegeneration sind fließend.

Diskussion

Das Verständnis der Rolle des physiologischen Alterungsprozesses ist bei der Entstehung von Krankheiten von großer Bedeutung. Eine Ableitung physiologischer Marker oder neuer Ansätze zur Erfassung oder Behandlung von krankheitsbedingten Entitäten mit dem Risikofaktor Alter ist wünschenswert. Hierzu sind zukünftige translationale Ansätze in der klinischen und grundlagenwissenschaftlichen ophthalmologischen Forschung notwendig.

Abstract

Background

The physiological aging of the eye is associated with loss of visual function. Age-related changes of the eye can result in ophthalmological diseases. The aim of this article is to display morphological, histological and molecular biological alterations of the aging eye.

Material and methods

A web-based search and review of the literature for aging of the visual system including cornea, lens, vitreous humor, retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), choroidea and optic nerve were carried out. The most important results related to morphological, histological and molecular biological changes are summarized.

Results

Age-related, morphological alterations can be found in preretinal structures, e. g. cornea, lens and vitreous humor, as well as neuronal structures, such as the retina. In addition to negligible clinical signs of the aging eye, there are clinically relevant changes which can develop into pathological ophthalmological diseases. These transitions from age-related alterations to relevant ophthalmological diseases, e. g. age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma are continuous.

Conclusion

An understanding of aging could provide predictive factors to detect the conversion of physiological aging into pathological conditions. The derivation of physiological markers or new approaches to detection and treatment of disease-related entities associated with the risk factor aging are desirable. Translational approaches in clinical and basic science are necessary to provide new therapeutic options for relevant ophthalmological diseases in the future.

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Danksagung

Die Autoren danken Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. Solon Thanos für das Lesen des Manuskriptes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland

    M. R. R. Böhm, H. Thomasen, F. Parnitzke & K.-P. Steuhl

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  1. M. R. R. Böhm
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Correspondence to M. R. R. Böhm.

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M.R.R. Böhm, H. Thomasen, F. Parnitzke und K.-P. Steuhl geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Dieser Beitrag beinhaltet keine von den Autoren durchgeführten Studien an Menschen oder Tieren.

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Böhm, M.R.R., Thomasen, H., Parnitzke, F. et al. Klinische, morphologische und molekularbiologische Charakteristika des alternden Auges. Ophthalmologe 114, 98–107 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00347-016-0403-9

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