What role does Bruch's membrane play in the eye?

What role does Bruch's membrane play in the eye?

• A. It generates aqueous humor.
• B. It supports the RPE and acts as a barrier to the passage of molecules between the choroid and the retina.
• C. It produces photopigments.
• D. It forms the inner limiting membrane.

Answer: (B)

Bruch's membrane lies between the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid and provides structural support to the RPE while acting as a selective barrier for molecules moving between the choroid and retina. This diffusion barrier helps regulate nutrient supply and waste removal, maintaining outer retinal health and the outer blood-retina barrier. With aging, Bruch's membrane can thicken and accumulate deposits called drusen, which are linked to age-related macular degeneration. Functions like generating aqueous humor, producing photopigments, or forming the inner limiting membrane belong to other parts of the eye—the ciliary body, photoreceptors, and Müller cell–derived inner retinal layer, respectively.

Bruch's membrane lies between the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid and provides structural support to the RPE while acting as a selective barrier for molecules moving between the choroid and retina. This diffusion barrier helps regulate nutrient supply and waste removal, maintaining outer retinal health and the outer blood-retina barrier. With aging, Bruch's membrane can thicken and accumulate deposits called drusen, which are linked to age-related macular degeneration. Functions like generating aqueous humor, producing photopigments, or forming the inner limiting membrane belong to other parts of the eye—the ciliary body, photoreceptors, and Müller cell–derived inner retinal layer, respectively.