Photoreceptor Cell Death

Photoreceptor cell death refers to the loss of specialized cells in the retina responsible for detecting light—rods and cones. This process can occur due to factors like aging, injury, or disease, leading to a gradual decline in visual ability. When these cells die, the signals that translate light into visual images are disrupted, causing vision impairment or blindness. The death may result from mechanisms like oxidative stress, genetic mutations, or inflammation. Understanding how photoreceptors die helps researchers develop treatments to preserve or restore vision in degenerative eye conditions.