The Phototransduction Pathway

Phototransduction is the process by which light stimuli are converted into electrical signals in the retina, enabling vision. This biochemical cascade allows photoreceptor cells—rods and cones—to detect light, initiate electrical signalling, and ultimately send this information to the brain for visual perception. Disruptions in these pathways, whether in the phototransduction process or in the recycling mechanisms, can lead to various visual disorders. Mutations in genes responsible for phototransduction and its components often result in retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and congenital stationary night blindness. This paper will explore the phototransduction pathway, the recycling of visual pigments, and common gene mutations associated with retinal diseases.