Leonide Saad

Introduction Stargardt disease (STGD) is an autosomal recessive macular dystrophy with a prevalence of 1 in 6000 to 1 in 10 000, characterized by retinal atrophic lesions, also known as chorioretinal atrophy, involving loss of photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and underlying choriocapillaris.1-3 Retinal atrophic lesions cause profound visual disturbances and progressive vision loss, including declines in visual acuity, visual fields, and night vision, as well as chromatopsia,...

Impaired dark adaptation (DA), a defect in the ability to adjust to dimly lit settings, is a universal hallmark of aging. However, the mechanisms responsible for impaired DA are poorly understood. Vitamin A byproducts, such as vitamin A dimers, are small molecules that form in the retina during the vitamin A cycle. We show that later in life, in the human eye, these byproducts reach levels commensurate with those of vitamin A.