Retinal imaging provides clues to mechanisms behind clinical disorders of cones color vision

SEATTLE – Retinal imaging studies have proved to be the key to understanding causes of gene mutations affecting long, middle and short wavelength sensitive cones associated with conditions ranging from color vision deficits to severe vision loss, a presenter here at the American Academy of Optometry said.

These mutations affect viability, structure and function of the retina, and retinal imaging technology has progressed to a point where insight into possible opportunities and avenues for treating vision loss could be achieved, Jay Neitz, PhD, told attendees of the Monroe J. Hirsch Research Symposium.

New imaging techniques provide information about which disorders are likely to be most amenable to treatments on the horizon, such as gene therapy by subretinal and intravitreal injection, Neitz said.

“Spectral domain optical coherence tomography is noninvasive interferometric measuring,” he said. “We’re using interferometry to get a true sense of reflectivity at different depths in the retina with a very high signal-to-noise ratio.”

In dry age-related macular degeneration, major features now able to be visualized with retinal imaging include drusen, pigment migration and atrophy, and in wet AMD, both intraretinal and subretinal fluids, as well as pigment epithelial detachments, Neitz said.

“Understanding the underlying anatomy of the retina really helps us understand what we’re seeing in these OCT images” he continued. “The advent of SD-OCT technology has improved the resolution and speed of these systems, and over time I expect this to continue to improve.

“All of these features, in both dry and wet AMD, can be quantified and will continue to be used to take better care of our patients,” Neitz concluded.

Disclosures: Neitz has no financial interests to disclose.