Fundus Autofluorescence Patterns of Submacular Fluid Resolution Following Repair of Macula-Involving Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments.

Background And Objective: Submacular fluid (SMF) can persist for months to years following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) repair. The authors' objective was to describe fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings associated with the absorption of persistent submacular fluid (SMF) following RD repair.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective review of clinical data and FAF and OCT imaging from sequential postoperative visits in a cohort of patients with persistent SMF following RD repair.

Results: In 11 of 13 eyes with persistent SMF, patches of decreased FAF signal corresponded to SMF on OCT. In eight eyes, there was a hypo- to hyperautofluorescence transition at the time of SMF resolution. These areas of increased FAF signal correlated with inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction loss on OCT.

Conclusion: FAF imaging can be informative when following SMF after RD repair; a hypo- to hyper-FAF signal transition correlates with SMF resolution and photoreceptor loss. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:1020-1029.].