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UCL Institute of Ophthalmology

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The Eye

Bestrophinopathies are a group of diseases that affect vision, particularly in the macular region of the eye

The anatomy of our eyes and the process of vision is very complicated and delicate. Our vision is determined by the precise anatomy of our eyes and the various cellular processes which occur within. Any kind of disruption to this machinery can cause devasting affects to our vision. In particular, bestrophinopathies target the pigmented layer of the light sensitive part of the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium, which leads to this layer not working correctly and affects the visual pathway, eventually leading to gradual visual loss. You can learn more about the anatomy of the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium and how bestrophinopathies compromise the retinal pigment epithelium by the clicking on the images below. 

Image of a camera lens

Anatomy of the ‘camera’ eye

Find out more about how the eye works and how it works just like a photo camera

Image of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells at 20x magnification

The retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)

Find out about the crucial role of the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in maintaining normal vision