Studies on Retinal and Choroidal Disorders examines the role that oxidative and nitrosative stress plays in the complex physiology and pathophysiology of the retina and choroid.  Both the basic science researcher and the clinical practitioner can use this book as a guide to the current understanding of retinal and choroidal cellular mechanisms involved in aging and disease. Beginning with a review of  oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathoetiology of AMD and a review of the complement system in the retina, the book then takes a detailed look at oxidative stress in lipid metabolism and oxidized lipoproteins in the retina.  It examines the anti-apoptotic activity of a-crystallins in the presence of glutathione, oxidative stress in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, the role of iron in retinal disease, the mechanisms of pathological VEGF expression, NAPDH oxidase mechanisms, and Hepatocyte Growth Factor in oxidative stress in the retina.  A detailed look at the Ccl2-/-/Cx3cr1-/- mouse model of AMD follows. Then a detailed examination of the systemic changes in AMD is followed by a discussion of  cerium oxide nanoparticle reduction of oxidative stress.  Two chapters discuss progenitor cells in the cause and treatment of retinal diseases including AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases are exhaustively presented, followed by a chapter on serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonists in oxidative stress of the retina. The current anti-VEGF treatment strategies of neovascular AMD are then given. The volume continues with a detailed look at nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase in retinal vascular disease, an explanation of an in vivo technique of studying the effect of lipid hydroperoxides on circulating leucocytes in the retina, an excellent review of oxidative stress in retinopathy of  prematurity, and a look at VEGF induced oxidative stress in the retinal ganglion cell.  The book ends with a detail examination of the role of carotenoids in retinal health and disease. These 31 chapters summarize what is known about oxidative stress in retinal and choroidal disorders. All those involved with degenerative diseases of the eye will find Studies on Retinal and Choroidal Disorders to be illuminating and comprehensive.

Robert D Stratton, MD is the Founder of Erie Retinal Surgery from 1984 to 2008 and past Head of the Division of Retinal Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida School of Medicine from 1980 to 1984. He is a fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Stratton's interests include vitreous and retinal diseases and surgery, and has 30 years experience in clinical practice. He is currently Courtesy Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida.William W Hauswirth, PhD, is the Rybaczki-Bullard Professor of Ophthalmology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Hauswirth is, in part, responsible for determining the mechanism of replication of adeno-associated virus (AAV) DNA and the discovery of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in mammals, the basis of mitochondrial disease. He collaborated on the first successful rescue of a dominant genetic disease in animals and the first restoration of vision for a recessive retinal disease.  He also demonstrated that AAV mediated gene therapy could cure red-green color blindness in monkeys. Dr Hauswirth's current interests involve the delivery and testing of potentially therapeutic genes for many eye diseases in natural and transgenic animal models of human disease.Thomas W. Gardner is Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was previously the Jack and Nancy Turner Professor of Ophthalmology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at the Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Gardner's interests include vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, and clinical and experimental diabetic retinopathy.  He currently serves as Associate Editor of Diabetes and Acta Ophthalmologica and on the editorial board of the Journal of Ocular Biology, Diseases and Informatics. He served previously on the editorial board of Diabetes, and is the former Editor-in-Chief of Current Eye Research.