Retinal degeneration (rhodopsin mutation)
Okay kiddo, so you know how we see things with our eyes, right? Well, there are special cells in the back of our eyes called "photoreceptor cells" that help us see by sending signals to our brain.
One of these photoreceptor cells is called a "rod cell" and it's super important for seeing in the dark. Now, inside this rod cell is a special molecule called "rhodopsin" which helps the cell work properly.
But sometimes, a person's rhodopsin molecule can be "mutated" which means it doesn't work the way it's supposed to. And when that happens, the rod cells in their eyes start to die.
This is called "retinal degeneration" and it can make it really hard for a person to see, especially in the dark. Sadly, there's no cure for this yet, but researchers are working hard to try and find one. Hopefully one day, they'll be able to help people with this condition see better again!
One of these photoreceptor cells is called a "rod cell" and it's super important for seeing in the dark. Now, inside this rod cell is a special molecule called "rhodopsin" which helps the cell work properly.
But sometimes, a person's rhodopsin molecule can be "mutated" which means it doesn't work the way it's supposed to. And when that happens, the rod cells in their eyes start to die.
This is called "retinal degeneration" and it can make it really hard for a person to see, especially in the dark. Sadly, there's no cure for this yet, but researchers are working hard to try and find one. Hopefully one day, they'll be able to help people with this condition see better again!