Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Dec 13;54(14):ORSF23-7. doi: 10.1167/iovs.13-12711.
We described anatomic age-related changes in the human eye to determine potential areas of investigation that may lead to identifying eyes at risk for age-related disease.
A descriptive review of anatomic changes in the eye related to aging was performed in the context of current areas of investigation. The review was performed specifically for differing anatomic ocular structures, including cornea, trabecular meshwork, lens, uveal tract, Bruch's membrane, retina, RPE, vitreous, sclera, and optic nerve.
Age-related changes occur in all ocular tissues. The cornea flattens and there is an attrition of endothelial cells. The shape of the trabecular meshwork changes and there is a loss of trabecular endothelium. The lens grows and becomes cataractous. The ciliary body becomes collagenized, there are choroidal vascular changes, and Bruch's membrane thickens. Retinal vessels become hyalinized and there is a loss of rods before cones in the macula. RPE morphometric changes occur with aging. The vitreous becomes liquefied and there is a loss of vitreous compartmentalization. The sclera becomes rigid and may become calcified. The optic nerve exhibits structural changes with age.
There are numerous anatomic age-related changes in the human eye. Current areas of investigation related to these changes include adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging of the RPE mosaic in the context of aging, and drug delivery devices that overcome age-related alterations to retinal and macular perfusion.
描述人类眼部与年龄相关的解剖学变化，以确定可能导致发现易患与年龄相关疾病的眼部的潜在研究领域。
在当前研究领域的背景下，对与衰老相关的眼部解剖变化进行了描述性综述。该综述特别针对不同的眼部解剖结构，包括角膜、小梁网、晶状体、葡萄膜、Bruch 膜、视网膜、RPE、玻璃体、巩膜和视神经。
年龄相关性变化发生在所有眼部组织中。角膜变平，内皮细胞磨损。小梁网的形状发生变化，小梁内皮细胞丧失。晶状体生长并变得白内障。睫状体胶原化，脉络膜血管发生变化，Bruch 膜增厚。视网膜血管发生玻璃样变，黄斑部的视杆细胞先于视锥细胞丧失。RPE 的形态发生变化随年龄增长而发生。玻璃体液化，玻璃体分隔丧失。巩膜变硬，可能发生钙化。视神经随年龄增长而发生结构变化。
人类眼部有许多与年龄相关的解剖学变化。目前与这些变化相关的研究领域包括在衰老背景下评估 RPE 镶嵌自适应光学扫描激光检眼镜成像，以及克服视网膜和黄斑灌注与年龄相关改变的药物输送装置。
