Figure 5.

Thickness of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), basal laminar deposit (BLamD), and Bruch's membrane (BrM) in different stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). At predefined locations in the fovea and perifovea, RPE, BLamD, and BrM were assayed (19–38 locations per eye). Only nonzero RPE measurements were included. Measurements within the same eye were averaged, and each eye was ranked. Data represent median and interquartile range of the rank list. (A) RPE cell body thicknesses were similar between groups with more variability in advanced disease. (B) Eyes with AMD strikingly accumulate BLamD compared to eyes without disease. (C) The interquartile range of BrM thicknesses was thin in neovascular AMD (3.1–4.0), relative to normal (4.1–4.8), and early to intermediate AMD (4.0–4.6). (D) The median RPE + BLamD was 3 to 5 µm greater in AMD eyes relative to normal eyes. The thickening of the RPE-basal lamina/BrM complex in AMD is largely driven by the addition and expansion of BLamD.