Lipid homeostasis plays a critical role in inherited and acquired retinal diseases

The photoreceptor layer of the retina converts light stimuli into electrical signals and transmits them to the visual cortex for image processing. Photoreceptor cells rely on a constant supply of nutrients, including lipids, to replenish their high demand of membrane remodelling. Dysregulated retinal lipid homeostasis results in ectopic lipid deposition that triggers oxidative stress, inflammatory response, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired signal transduction, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration in several eye diseases. In this review, we discuss the importance of lipid homeostasis in the normal functioning of the retina and how dysregulation in this process due to genetic or acquired factors manifests in various retinal pathologies. We summarize potential strategies to mitigate the pathological effects of retinal diseases.