AOR
Archives of Ophthalmological Research

The Archives of Ophthalmological Research aims to publish issues related to publish articles of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level, and accepts articles on these topics. The target audience of the journal included specialists and physicians working in ophthalmology, and other health professionals interested in these fields.

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The retinal pigment epithelium: the silent guardian and mother of photoreceptors
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly specialized, polarized monolayer that sustains photoreceptor survival through metabolic coupling, chromophore regeneration, phagocytosis, ion and fluid transport, immune regulation, and trophic factor secretion. Although historically viewed as a structural support layer, modern molecular, imaging, and therapeutic evidence positions the RPE as the central regulator of outer retinal homeostasis. This review synthesizes structural biology, developmental polarity, cellular stress responses, retinal degenerative diseases, imaging biomarkers, and emerging therapies through a unifying maternal paradigm. We propose that the RPE functions biologically as the “mother” of photoreceptors—nourishing, cleansing, protecting, and responding dynamically to injury. Clinical and experimental data from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease, and RPE-targeted gene therapy support the conceptual re-centering of retinal disease around RPE dysfunction.

Keywords : Phagocytosis, photoreceptor support, retinal pigment epithelium, visual cycle, vitamin A metabolism

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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 1, 2026
Page : 10-16
https://doi.org/10.51271/AOR-0046
Article Information
Received : 15 Şub 2026
Accepted : 10 Mar 2026
Published : 19 Mar 2026
Corresponding Author :

Mehmet Çıtırık: Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Çıtırık M. The retinal pigment epithelium: the silent guardian and mother of photoreceptors. Arch Ophthalmol Res. 2026;3(1):10-16. doi:10.51271/AOR-0046

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