Origin of Calcium-Based Deposits in the Eye (IMAGE)

University College London

Origin of Calcium-Based Deposits in the Eye

Caption

Spheres of calcium-based compound hydroxyapatite (in purple), commonly found in teeth and bones. New UCL-led research has linked these tiny spheres to age-related macular degeneration. AMD is characterised by a build-up of mainly protein and fat containing deposits called 'drusen' in the retina. This image shows hydroxyapatite spheres (purple) inside drusen deposits (green) within the eye. The image is about a 30 microns (thousandths of a millimetre) across.

Credit

Imre Lengyel, UCL

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