title: Fundus autofluorescence in patients with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears: an in-vivo evaluation of RPE resurfacing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate RPE resurfacing by changes in fundus autofluorescence (AF) in patients with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series of patients presenting with RPE tears from 1 March 2008 to 1 April 2011. The pattern and area of AF signal distribution in RPE tears were evaluated. The change in the size of the area of debrided RPE over the follow-up period was used as the main outcome measure. A reduction in this area was termed "RPE resurfacing", and an enlargement termed "progression of RPE cell loss".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients (14 eyes) with RPE tears (mean age 82 years) were included in this study. The mean baseline area of reduced AF signal was 4.1 mm(2) (range 0.33-14.9, median 0.29). "Resurfacing" of the RPE occurred in ten eyes and "progression of RPE cell loss" in four eyes after a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 1-39). The mean area of healing was 2.0 mm(2), and progression was 1.78 mm(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A consistent AF pattern was observed in patients with RPE tears. RPE resurfacing over the area of the RPE tear occurred, to a varying degree, in the majority of the cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Grampian University Hospitals-NHS Trust, Aberdeen, Foresterhill, AB25 2ZN, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Randev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lois
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology