title: [Clinical, morphological and molecular biological characteristics of the aging eye].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physiological aging of the eye is associated with loss of visual function. Age-related changes of the eye can result in ophthalmological diseases. The aim of this article is to display morphological, histological and molecular biological alterations of the aging eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based search and review of the literature for aging of the visual system including cornea, lens, vitreous humor, retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), choroidea and optic nerve were carried out. The most important results related to morphological, histological and molecular biological changes are summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-related, morphological alterations can be found in preretinal structures, e. g. cornea, lens and vitreous humor, as well as neuronal structures, such as the retina. In addition to negligible clinical signs of the aging eye, there are clinically relevant changes which can develop into pathological ophthalmological diseases. These transitions from age-related alterations to relevant ophthalmological diseases, e. g. age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma are continuous.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of aging could provide predictive factors to detect the conversion of physiological aging into pathological conditions. The derivation of physiological markers or new approaches to detection and treatment of disease-related entities associated with the risk factor aging are desirable. Translational approaches in clinical and basic science are necessary to provide new therapeutic options for relevant ophthalmological diseases in the future.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland. michael.boehm@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: M R R
authors.initials: MRR
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomasen
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parnitzke
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Klinik für Erkrankungen des vorderen Augenabschnittes, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K-P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Steuhl
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
keywords: Asthenia; Cornea; Lens; Optic nerve; Visual acuity