Abstract
AbstractAge‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults above the age of 50. AMD is attributed to the degeneration and loss of normal function of the outer retina in the macular region. Presence of extracellular material called drusen between the Bruch's membrane (BrM) and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the hallmark of AMD. Moreover, thickening and reduced diffusivity of the BrM has been observed in patients with AMD. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the BrM microstructure and the drusen size on oxygen transport in the outer retina using a multiscale computational modeling approach. The proposed framework comprises of a cascade lattice micromechanics model for characterizing the overall diffusivity of the BrM, a finite element model for simulating oxygen transport from the vascular system to the photoreceptors and a cellular potts model for simulating morphological changes to the outer retina due to drusen development. Simulations for various levels of BrM blockage and drusen size on oxygen supply to the photoreceptors are presented and their significance on AMD development discussed.
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