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Aug 29, 2023 | Cell Reports Journal
Rapid RGR-dependent visual pigment recycling is mediated by the RPE and specialized Müller glia
In daylight, demand for visual chromophore (11-cis-retinal) exceeds supply by the classical visual cycle. This shortfall is compensated, in part, by the retinal G-protein-coupled receptor (RGR) photoisomerase, which is expressed in both the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and in Müller cells. The relative contributions of these two cellular pools of RGR to the maintenance of photoreceptor light responses are not known. Here, we use a cell-specific gene reactivation approach to elucidate the kinetics of RGR-mediated recovery of photoreceptor responses following light exposure. Electroretinographic measurements in mice with RGR expression limited to either cell type reveal that the RPE and a specialized subset of Müller glia contribute both to scotopic and photopic function. We demonstrate that 11-cis-retinal formed through photoisomerization is rapidly hydrolyzed, consistent with its role in a rapid visual pigment regeneration process. Our study shows that RGR provides a pan-retinal sink for all-trans-retinal released under sustained light conditions and supports rapid chromophore regeneration through the photic visual cycle.
Aug 08, 2023 | UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Shine the Light
Q&A with Chief of Neuro-ophthalmology Dr. Vivek Patel
One of our collaboration opportunities at UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute is Neuro-ophthalmology. Hear from Chief of Neuro-ophthalmology, Dr. Vivek Patel, in this Q&A.
Jul 28, 2023 | UCI School of Medicine
Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, Receives the Distinguished Senior Faculty Award for Research
Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, distinguished professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and the UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, receives the UCI Academic Senate's most prestigious award.
Jul 28, 2023 | UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Shine the Light
Appreciating the value of leading-edge information
Nearly 10 million people with diabetes in the U.S. have diabetic retinopathy, or eye damage as a result from the disease, new research shows. Hear from top specialists, including Dr. Mitul Mehta, Associate Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology, UCI School of Medicine, on the condition and treatment options.
Jul 06, 2023 | UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Shine the Light
Eyes are a Window into the Brain
UCI Health neuro-ophthalmologists work closely with their UCI Health neurosurgery colleagues to treat patients with complex conditions that affect vision.
Jul 01, 2023 | Health.com
1 in 4 people with diabetes have this sight-threatening condition, study finds
May 19, 2023 | UCI Health Live Well Magazine
Giving the Gift of Sight
The UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute is now the second medical institution in the nation and the only one on the West Coast to offer a rare vision-restoring treatment for this blinding condition.
Apr 25, 2023 | Forbes Health
Red Eyes (Bloodshot Eyes): Causes And Treatment
Red eyes, also called bloodshot eyes, can be caused by various factors and are a common issue most people experience at some point. It’s important to understand the possible reasons behind red eyes because while some underlying causes are harmless, others can indicate a medical concern, be contagious and/or require medical attention.
Apr 03, 2023 | UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Shine the Light
High Support for Low Vision
When eye diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma impair vision so much that it impacts daily life, patients often feel a sense of loss and despair. At the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, our Low Vision Rehabilitation Program experts strive to restore hope and help patients get back to what they love to do.
Feb 02, 2023 | UCI Health Live Well Magazine
A Sister's Gift Restores Sight
Karen Ketchum had just gone through surgery to remove a melanoma followed by immunotherapy when she developed a mysterious new condition, lesions that began appearing all over her body, including her eyes, making it hard to see. Eventually she was referred to the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and ophthalmologist Marjan Farid, MD, a specialist in cornea surgery and ocular stem cell transplantation who leads the newly established UCI Health Severe Ocular Surface Disease Program.