Blue-light fundus autofluorescence imaging of pigment epithelial detachments.

Background: Pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) occur in association with various chorioretinal diseases. With respect to the broad clinical spectrum of PEDs we describe fundus autofluorescence (FAF) characteristics of PEDs.

Methods: Ninety-three eyes of 66 patients (mean age 71.

Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging in Patients with Choroidal Melanoma.

Choroidal melanocytic lesions require reliable and precise clinical examination and diagnosis to differentiate benign choroidal nevi from choroidal melanoma, as the latter may become life-threatening through metastatic disease. To come to an accurate diagnosis, as well as for monitoring, and to assess the efficacy of therapy, various imaging modalities may be used, one of which is non-invasive fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging using novel high-resolution digital imaging technology. FAF imaging is based on the visualization of intrinsic fluorophores in the ocular fundus.

Fundus autofluorescence imaging.

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging is an in vivo imaging method that allows for topographic mapping of naturally or pathologically occurring intrinsic fluorophores of the ocular fundus. The dominant sources are fluorophores accumulating as lipofuscin in lysosomal storage bodies in postmitotic retinal pigment epithelium cells as well as other fluorophores that may occur with disease in the outer retina and subretinal space. Photopigments of the photoreceptor outer segments as well as macular pigment and melanin at the fovea and parafovea may act as filters of the excitation light.

[Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging: Clinical Application and Diagnostic Relevance].

Non-invasive fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging visualizes fluorophores at the level of the photoreceptors, the subneurosensory space and the retinal pigment epithelium. It gives important information over and above other imaging techniques. FAF imaging has improved the pathophysiological understanding of various retinal diseases.

Blue-Light Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging following Ruthenium-106 Brachytherapy for Choroidal Melanoma.

Purpose: To describe changes in blue-light fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and corresponding alterations in optical coherence tomography (OCT) within the irradiation field after ruthenium-106 brachytherapy (RBT) for choroidal melanoma.

Methods: Consecutive patients with choroidal melanoma were included in a retrospective case series. Patients were treated with RBT at a single institution.

[Bilateral multifocal pigment epithelial detachments associated with inhaled corticosteroids].

A 37-year-old male patient presented with metamorphopsia and unilateral visual impairment with the presence of hundreds of bilateral avascular retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs). The patient suffered from allergic bronchial asthma which was treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Cessation of corticosteroid treatment resulted in flattening of larger PEDs and subsequent transition to atrophic areas over time while smaller PEDs persisted and spread peripherally over an observation period of 14½ years.

A subgroup of age-related macular degeneration is associated with mono-allelic sequence variants in the ABCA4 gene.

Purpose. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a heterogeneous condition of high prevalence and complex etiology involving genetic as well as environmental factors. By fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging, AMD can be classified into several distinct phenotypes, with one subgroup characterized by fine granular pattern with peripheral punctate spots (GPS[+]).

Concordance of disease progression in bilateral geographic atrophy due to AMD.

Purpose: To determine the degree of concordance for progression rate, size of atrophy, and visual acuity in patients with bilateral geographic atrophy (GA) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Analysis was performed in 156 eyes of 78 patients with bilateral GA. Best corrected visual acuity was determined with ETDRS charts.

Age-related structural abnormalities in the human retina-choroid complex revealed by two-photon excited autofluorescence imaging.

The intensive metabolism of photoreceptors is delicately maintained by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the choroid. Dysfunction of either the RPE or choroid may lead to severe damage to the retina. Two-photon excited autofluorescence (TPEF) from endogenous fluorophores in the human retina provides a novel opportunity to reveal age-related structural abnormalities in the retina-choroid complex prior to apparent pathological manifestations of age-related retinal diseases.

Progression of geographic atrophy and impact of fundus autofluorescence patterns in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To test if fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns around geographic atrophy (GA) have an impact on GA progression rates over time in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Prospective longitudinal multicenter natural history study.

Methods: Standardized digital FAF images were obtained from 195 eyes of 129 patients with GA using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (excitation 488 nm, emission >500 nm).

Two-photon-excited fluorescence imaging of human RPE cells with a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser.

Purpose: To record the distribution and spectrum of human retinal pigment epithelial cell lipofuscin (LF) by two-photon-excited fluorescence (TPEF) and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Methods: Ex vivo TPEF imaging of the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of human donor eyes was conducted with a multiphoton laser scanning microscope that employs a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser as an excitation laser source. The spectrum of autofluorescence of LF granules was analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope coupled to a UV argon laser.

Correlation between the area of increased autofluorescence surrounding geographic atrophy and disease progression in patients with AMD.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that the extension of areas with increased fundus autofluorescence (FAF) outside atrophic patches correlates with the rate of spread of geographic atrophy (GA) over time in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: The database of the multicenter longitudinal natural history Fundus Autofluorescence in AMD (FAM) Study was reviewed for patients with GA recruited through the end of August 2003, with follow-up examinations within at least 1 year. Only eyes with sufficient image quality and with diffuse patterns of increased FAF surrounding atrophy were chosen.

Two-photon excited autofluorescence imaging of human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells severely impairs the visual function of retina photoreceptors. However, little is known about the events that trigger the death of RPE cells at the subcellular level. Two-photon excited autofluorescence (TPEF) imaging of RPE cells proves to be well suited to investigate both the morphological and the spectral characteristics of the human RPE cells.

[Modern pharmacotherapy of age-related macular degeneration].

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is now the most common cause for blind registration in all developed countries. Epidemiologic data indicate that there are 4.5 millions affected in Germany with constant increase in incidence and prevalence with subsequent considerable health economic implications.