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Fundus autofluorescence imaging useful in identifying AMD patterns, study finds
Specific fundus autofluorescence patterns are associated with choroidal neovascularization development, according to a study recently published in Optometry & Vision Science.
Batıoğlu and colleagues also reported that using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope can help find fundus autofluorescence patterns in patients with nonexudative age-related macular degeneration.
Researchers included 178 eyes from 101 patients older than 55 years old with nonexudative AMD. All of the eyes presented types of drusen both with and without hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation.
Participants underwent an ophthalmological examination as well as fundus autofluorescence imaging with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRA2, Heidelberg Engineering). Researchers utilized the International Fundus Autofluorescence Classification Group to identify the patterns.
Results showed that 12.3% of eyes developed choroidal neovascularization. The patchy, linear and reticular patterns were associated with choroidal neovascularization, with frequencies of 30.4%, 25% and 20.8%, respectively.
Researchers concluded that fundus autofluorescence imaging is useful in identifying patterns that are associated with choroidal neovascularization development.
"Fundus autofluorescence imaging may allow identification of additional information on the status of the retinal pigment epithelium and may expand the spectrum of possible risk factors," the authors noted. "It gives additional information above and beyond conventional imaging methods such as fundus photography and fluorescein angiography."
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.