Changes of fundus autofluorescence, photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction line, and visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether a significant correlation exists among the changes in the size of the abnormal parafoveal autofluorescence ring, the length of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment (IS/OS) junction, and the visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.


METHODS
Retrospective observational case series. A total of 50 eyes of 26 patients with typical retinitis pigmentosa and an autofluorescence ring were examined by optical coherence tomography and microperimetry. During the follow-up period of >2 years, the changes in the diameter and area of the autofluorescence ring, the length of the IS/OS line, the best-corrected visual acuity and mean retinal sensitivity in the central 10 degrees were determined.


RESULTS
The diameter and area of the autofluorescence ring, and the length of the IS/OS line decreased significantly during the follow-up period (all, P < 0.0001). The decrease in autofluorescence ring diameter was significantly correlated with the decrease in retinal sensitivity, visual acuity and IS/OS length (P = 0.0105, P = 0.0252 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The decrease in autofluorescence ring area was significantly correlated with the decrease in retinal sensitivity, visual acuity and IS/OS length (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0026 and P = 0.0011, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
During the progression of retinitis pigmentosa, the progressive constriction of the autofluorescence ring reflects the morphological changes of the photoreceptors, and is associated with a worsening of visual function.
Aizawa
Sayaka
S
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Mitamura
Yoshinori
Y
Hagiwara
Akira
A
Sugawara
Takeshi
T
Yamamoto
Shuichi
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005453:Fluorescence; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055211:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055214:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D008062:Lipofuscin