Purpose
Assess Autofluorescence technique, fundus lesions and their evolution over time in patients with Age-Related Macular Disease (ARMD) Dry Type
Methods
Standardized digital FAF images were obtained from 26 eyes of 17 patients with GA using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (excitation 488 nm, emission >500 nm). Areas of GA were quantified and patterns of abnormal FAF in the junctional zone were classified. With follow-up 6/26 eyes in six months.
Results
Alterations in FAF were classified into seven phenotypic patterns including, minimal change, none, banded, reticular, Branching, Fine Granular and Trikling. Geographic Atrophy at six months could be assessed in four eyes, two eyes were classified as minimal changes without modifications apparent to FAF. Four eyes with A showed different patterns of FAF from None, Banded and Branching. The None pattern size increased atrophy in 5% of their initial size in the 6 month follow-up, Banded pattern increased 10% and 30% in the left and right eye respectively, finally Branching pattern increased 6%. Areas of GA showed a median enlargement of 7296,97 pixeles2/6 months, ED 10608,571. Atrophy enlargement was the slowest in eye with “None” FAF pattern (376,58 pixeles2 /6 months), followed by eye with the “Branching” FAF pattern (524,71 pixeles2/6 months) and by eyes with the “Banded” FAF pattern (5479,44 pixeles2/6 meses, and 22807,18/6 meses).
Conclusions
The results suggest that different patterns of FAF have an impact on desease progression of atrophy in ARMD and may become a pronostic factor. Although the molecular mechanisms in the pathophysiology of this disease are not understood completely, the Retinal Pigment Epithelium and lipofuscin plays an important role, will need future studies to identify potential risk factors to prevent growth of geographic atrophy
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
552 imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)