Principles of retinal aging and potential strategies to alleviate its impact. (a) Aging of the retina is influenced by genetic, environmental, and stochastic events. (b) The retina is subjected to constant environmental stressors, including UV and blue light, and lifestyle variables, such as diet and smoking, that contribute to loss of functional and cellular integrity with age. (c) Age-dependent shifts in retinal integrity. Genetic variants, comorbidities, and environmental risk factors can exacerbate retinal aging, whereas specific cellular and molecular alterations can be ameliorated by pharmaceutical compounds or modifications in lifestyle. These interventions could prevent or delay functional decline and emergence of disease.