Quantitative evaluation of fundus autofluorescence imaged "in vivo" in eyes with retinal disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new method of evaluating the topographic distribution of fundus autofluorescence in eyes with retinal disease.


METHODS
Images of fundus autofluorescence were obtained in five patients and 34 normal volunteers using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO). To evaluate the topographic distribution of fundus autofluorescence throughout the posterior pole a rectangular box, 10 x 750 pixels, was used as the area of analysis. The box was placed, horizontally, across the macular region. The intensity of fundus autofluorescence of each pixel within the rectangular box was plotted against its degree of eccentricity. Profiles of fundus autofluorescence from patients were compared with those obtained from the age matched control group and with cSLO images.


RESULTS
Profiles of fundus autofluorescence appeared to represent the topographic distribution of fundus autofluorescence throughout the posterior pole appreciated in the cSLO images, and allowed rapid identification and quantification of areas of increased or decreased fundus autofluorescence.


CONCLUSIONS
Fundus autofluorescence profiles appear to be useful to study the spatial distribution of fundus autofluorescence in eyes with retinal disease.
Lois
N
N
Department of Visual Science, Institute of Ophthalmology, London.
Halfyard
A S
AS
Bird
A C
AC
Fitzke
F W
FW
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005453:Fluorescence; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013053:Spectrophotometry
D008062:Lipofuscin