Photoreceptor images of normal eyes and of eyes with macular dystrophy obtained in vivo with an adaptive optics fundus camera.

Purpose: To report on images of the human photoreceptor mosaic acquired in vivo with a newly developed, compact adaptive optics (AO) fundus camera.

Methods: The photoreceptors of two normal subjects and a patient with macular dystrophy were examined by using an AO fundus camera equipped with a liquid crystal phase modulator. In the eye with macular dystrophy, the fixation point in the AO images was identified using scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) microperimetric image superimposed on a color fundus photograph.

Results: Photoreceptor cells were detected as bright dots approximately 4 microm in diameter in normal subjects. In the eye with macular dystrophy, the fixation point was located within the bull's eye lesion and uniform small whitish spots with irregular patchiness were observed in the AO images of this area. The distance between the small spots was 3-4 microm. In other parts of the bull's eye retinal lesion, the whitish spots were larger and of different sizes.

Conclusions: The photoreceptor mosaic could be identified in photographs of eyes of normal subjects and an eye with macular dystrophy in vivo by an AO fundus camera. In the eye with macular dystrophy, a relatively uniform photoreceptor mosaic was observed around the fixation point, whereas presumed debris of photoreceptor degradation was observed in the other bull's eye retinal lesion.