If the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the eye accumulates excessive lipofuscin due to impaired autophagy, which consequence follows, impairing vision?

💡 Explanation

Excessive lipofuscin accumulation in the RPE inhibits its normal function of recycling photoreceptor outer segments via phagocytosis, because this process leads to oxidative stress and inflammation that damages photoreceptors, ultimately causing their dysfunction and cell death. Therefore, the answer is photoreceptor dysfunction; rather than enhanced vision or decreased risk, the buildup causes cellular damage.

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