Classification of fundus autofluorescence patterns in early age-related macular disease.

Purpose: To describe and classify patterns of abnormal fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in eyes with early nonexudative age-related macular disease (AMD).

Methods: FAF images were recorded in eyes with early AMD by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) with excitation at 488 nm (argon or OPSL laser) and emission above 500 or 521 nm (barrier filter). A standardized protocol for image acquisition and generation of mean images after automated alignment was applied, and routine fundus photographs were obtained.

Digital simultaneous fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, autofluorescence, and red-free imaging with a solid-state laser-based confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

Purpose: To describe and to evaluate a novel confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) for fluorescence angiography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and red-free imaging.

Methods: Digital infrared, red-free, FAF, fluorescein, and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography images were obtained with a cSLO in 766 patients. An optically pumped solid-state laser generates the excitation wavelength (488 nm) required for red-free, FAF, and fluorescein angiography images.

Visualization of retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo using digital high-resolution confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

Purpose: To visualize retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo by fundus autofluorescence imaging using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

Design: Experimental study and observational case report.

Methods: Digital in vivo autofluorescence images were recorded with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (excitation, 488 nm; emission, >500 nm) and compared with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope and fluorescence microscopic recordings from human donor eyes.

Agreement among ophthalmologists in evaluating fluorescein angiograms in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration for photodynamic therapy eligibility (FLAP-study).

Objective: To determine intraobserver and interobserver variation for classifying types of choroidal neovascularizations (CNV) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Design: Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability study.

Participants: Digital high-quality fluorescein angiograms of 40 patients with neovascular ARMD were evaluated independently by 16 retinal specialists.

Symmetry of bilateral lesions in geographic atrophy in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Background: As a cause for severe visual loss, geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium is about half as common as choroidal neovascularization in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration. To assess symmetry, we determined intraindividual variations of various features of bilateral geographic atrophy in patients with atrophic age-related macular degeneration in a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Patients were examined with the use of a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).

Analysis of digital scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fundus autofluorescence images of geographic atrophy in advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) has been shown to be superior to fundus photography or angiography for delineating areas of geographic atrophy (GA) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and for recording variation over time. We have evaluated a method for automated computerized detection and quantitation of RPE atrophy.

Methods: AF images in vivo were recorded with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (exc.