Visualization of retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo using digital high-resolution confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To visualize retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo by fundus autofluorescence imaging using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope.


METHODS
Experimental study and observational case report.


METHODS
Digital in vivo autofluorescence images were recorded with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (excitation, 488 nm; emission, >500 nm) and compared with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope and fluorescence microscopic recordings from human donor eyes.


RESULTS
A uniform pattern of the polygonal retinal pigment epithelial cell layer was visualized in vivo outside of absorbing retinal vessels and macular pigment. Autofluorescence intensities of individual cells showed marked variation. The pattern corresponded to in vitro findings. Visualization is based on the topographic distribution of autofluorescent lipofuscin granules and melanin granules in apical retinal pigment epithelium cytoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution autofluorescence imaging may be useful to determine morphologic and lipofuscin-dependent alterations in retinal diseases and may be applicable for monitoring effects of therapeutic interventions targeting the retinal pigment epithelium.
Bindewald
Almut
A
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. frank_holz@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Jorzik
Jork J
JJ
Loesch
Annette
A
Schutt
Florian
F
Holz
Frank G
FG
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology*