[cSLO digital fundus autofluorescence imaging].
BACKGROUND
Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) originates from age- and disease-dependent accumulation of lipofuscin in the lysosomal compartment of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). FAF imaging is a noninvasive method to detect intrinsic RPE fluorescence in vivo. We describe features of a novel confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO) for FAF imaging and compare images to the previous cSLO system.


METHODS
FAF images were obtained with a cSLO using an optically pumped solid state laser (OPSL) instead of an argon laser for generation of excitation light at 488 nm. For detection of emitted FAF signals >500 nm a barrier filter was used.


RESULTS
The novel cSLO allows FAF imaging with a resolution of up to 5 microm/pixel to delineate normal and pathological features in various retinal pathologies including early-stage and advanced atrophic or neovascular age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, and retinal dystrophies. Further technical improvements include an internal fixation target and an enlarged optical focus adaption range.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved image quality using the novel cSLO for FAF imaging is of clinical relevance for diagnosis and precise phenotyping of retinal diseases. This method may also be useful to monitor therapeutic effects targeting RPE lipofuscin accumulation as a common pathogenetic pathway in various degenerative and hereditary retinal diseases.
Bindewald
A
A
Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Universität, Bonn. Almut.Bindewald@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Jorzik
J J
JJ
Roth
F
F
Holz
F G
FG
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000032:analysis; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software
D008062:Lipofuscin