Retinal degenerative diseases result in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and photoreceptor
cell loss. These cells are continuously exposed to the environment (light) and to potentially
pro-oxidative conditions, as the retina's oxygen consumption is very high. There is also a
high flux of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a PUFA that moves through the blood stream
toward photoreceptors and between them and RPE cells. Photoreceptor outer segment
shedding and phagocytosis intermittently renews photoreceptor membranes. DHA is …