Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to compare near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIA, excitation 787 nm, emission>800) with fundus autofluorescence (FAF, excitation 488 nm, emission >500) in patients with acquired vitelliform detachment.
Methods:
: Fundus autofluorescence and near infrared autofluorescence were obtained using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Spectralis HRA+OCT) in 10 eyes of 8 patients with acquired vitelliform detachment. Aquired vitelliform lesions were defined as subretinal accumulations of yellow material that developed in adulthood. SD-OCT was performed in all eyes as well.
Results:
10 eyes of 8 patients with a mean age of 72±3 years were found to have two different subretinal material by NIA, FAF and SD-OCT imaging. The first material was located in the space between the neurosensory retina and the RPE layer and it appeared intensely hyperautofluorescent by FAF imaging, while it was not hyperautofluorescence by NIA technique in all patients.The second type of material was located under the RPE layer and it appeared intensely hyperautofluorescence by NIA imaging.
Conclusions:
: FAF and NIA indicate accumulation of different types of subretinal material in acquired vitelliform detachment. We speculate that the material located between the neurosensory retina and the RPE layer by SD-OCT, and which appears intensely hyperautofluorescent by FAF, is lipofuscin. On the other hand, the one which is located under the RPE layer, hyperautofluorescence with NIA, is melanin. The imaging techniques provide further insight into the development of acquired vitelliform detachment and offer the possibility of non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of this condition.
Keywords: retinal degenerations: hereditary • retinal pigment epithelium • macula/fovea