title: Fundus autofluorescence and microperimetry in progressing geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively analyse microperimetry, standard short-wavelength fundus autofluorescent (SW-FAF) and near infrared-wavelength FAF (NIR-FAF) changes in eyes with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive eyes (14 patients) affected by GA were enrolled. Repeated microperimetric examinations and FAF images were obtained over a mean follow-up period of 12.3±4.5 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GA area was always wider on NIR-FAF versus SW-FAF images (5.05±2.40 mm(2) vs 4.45±2.41 mm(2), p=0.005 baseline; 5.78±2.87 mm(2) vs 5.21±2.77 mm(2), p<0.0001 follow-up). Mean retinal sensitivity significantly decreased during follow-up from 7.68±3.92 dB to 6.71±4.37 dB (p=0.0013). 47.3% of the relative dense scotomas (≤5 dB) progressed to dense scotoma (0 dB). Retinal areas showing relative dense scotoma and characterised by hypo-SW-FAF or hyper-NIR-FAF at baseline had a higher risk of evolving to dense scotoma compared with normo-FAF and hyper-FAF on SW-FAF (OR=2.62 and 2.77, respectively), or normo-FAF at NIR-FAF (OR=2.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SW-FAF, compared with NIR-FAF, underestimates GA area at baseline and at follow-up. The enlargement rate of progression based on NIR-FAF is not greater than on SW-FAF. Different SW-FAF and NIR-FAF patterns show different relative risk of progression from relative to dense scotoma. Microperimetry, SW-FAF and NIR-FAF should be combined to obtain adequate morphological and functional prospective information.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Pilotto
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Guidolin
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: Convento
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Spedicato
authors: Stela
authors: S
authors: Vujosevic
authors: Fabiano
authors: F
authors: Cavarzeran
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Midena
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests
chemical_list: D008062:Lipofuscin