Macular Drusen and the Immune System

by Elizabeth
(Philadelphia, PA USA)

Why doesn't our immune system naturally eliminate drusen from the retina?

Answer

I love this question, Elizabeth, because it gives me a chance to explain that the development of macular degeneration is more of a transportation problem than it is an immune system problem.

Drusen are lumps of waste products located between the Bruch's membrand and the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE).

What causes macular degeneration is actually the breakdown of this delicate transportation system - oxygen and nutrients aren't getting delivered to the macula and waste products aren't getting out.

When this system starts to break down, rod and cone cells degenerate or die.

To see a picture of macular drusen and to learn more about what size and type of drusen are the most harmful and what can be done if you have them click here:

Macular Drusen

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN