Sustained delivery of retinoids to prevent photoreceptor death

Abstract

Delivery of hydrophobic compounds to photoreceptors within the retina presents unique challenges due to the anatomy and physiology of the eye. Derivatives of vitamin A (retinoids) are essential to the function and survival of photoreceptors and in the absence of an intrinsic mechanism to metabolize these compounds (visual cycle) leads to extensive loss of photoreceptors and visual function. In this chapter, we describe a method for the sustained delivery of retinoids to young mice that lack a functioning visual cycle to promote survival of photoreceptors.