What condition is described as RPE death and dropout due to oxidative and mechanical stress?

The condition characterized by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) death and dropout due to oxidative and mechanical stress is best described as geographic atrophy. This condition is a late form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Geographic atrophy involves the progressive degradation of the RPE and the underlying choroid, resulting in changes to the macula and leading to significant visual impairment.

Oxidative stress plays a fundamental role in the pathology of geographic atrophy, and mechanical stress can contribute to the RPE cell loss. The loss of RPE cells leads to the exposure of the underlying photoreceptors and choroidal tissues, resulting in visual field loss and central vision impairment.

Conversely, while focal pigmentary atrophy can occur in the context of AMD, it does not encompass the full spectrum of RPE death seen in geographic atrophy. Dry AMD generally refers to early and intermediate stages where changes in the retina are noted but do not yet include the extensive RPE dropout characteristic of geographic atrophy. Macular degeneration is a generic term that can refer to both dry and wet forms, but it does not specifically describe the mechanism of oxidative and mechanical stress-related RPE death.

This clarification helps to understand the distinctions between these