METABOLISM OF THE RETINA

Abstract

DURING the past few years the interest in retinal metabolism has been greatly intensified. Many investigations were made on the retina as part of a war emergency program. Because of this practical interest in a narrow but important subdivision of ophthalmology, this survey of the literature was made. A study of the metabolic processes in the retina has been the basis of much research, particularly within the last ten years. This is not surprising, as such work may have a double goal—first, to provide additional information on the problem of visual mechanisms and, second, inasmuch as the retina shows metabolic activity greater than that of almost any other tissue, to study the chain reactions of intermediate metabolism. The extensive literature, dealing with many phases of the problem, is difficult to put together into a single picture, and therefore one must present many observations alone and await further investigation to understand