Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in older adults. By 2040, it is expected to affect nearly 288 million people worldwide. Additionally, inherited eye disorders like Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, and cone-rod dystrophy rob thousands of people of their sight yearly, often with few treatment options available.

To attempt to combat this rise in vision loss, scientists have created the most detailed genetic map of the human eye ever assembled — and it could help explain why some people lose their vision while others do not.

The research, published in Nature Communications, offers an unprecedented look at how tiny differences in our DNA influence the way eye tissues function. These new insights could pave the way for earlier detection and more personalized treatments for vision-related diseases.