Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the stability of the autologous transplant of RPE and choroid in patients with geographic atrophy in comparison to the transplant in patients with exudative AMD up to 2 years.
Methods: :
Fundus autofluorescence of 20 patients undergoing autologous transplant of RPE and choroid either due to exudative AMD or due to geographic atrophy were retrospectively analyzed. The mean gray values of the transplant were measured in correlation to the peripheral RPE using the ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, USA). All measurements were done using the autofluorescence images from the 6 months, 1 year and 2 years visits.
Results: :
The mean gray value of the RPE on the graft in geographic atrophy group was 70 ± 13 % in comparison to the area outside the macula 6 months after surgery; 73 ± 13 % 1 year after surgery and 66 ± 17 % 2 years after surgery. In the CNV group the mean gray value of the graft was 65 ± 16 % in comparison to the area outside the macula 6 months after surgery; 69 ± 17 % 1 year after surgery and 68 ± 25 % 2 years after surgery. The differences were not statistically significant. Best corrected visual acuity 6 months after surgery ranged from 0.18 to 1.50 LogMAR (mean 0.9 ± 0.42) and 2 years after surgery from 0.22 to 1.64 LogMAR (mean 1.0 ± 0.45). No correlation was found between the autofluorescence of the graft and the best corrected visual acuity.
Conclusions: :
Long term over all autofluorescence of autologous grafts of choroid and RPE can be considered stable in exudative and in geographic atrophy alike both up to 2 years. Autofluorescence is not strictly correlated to best corrected visual acuity, which is influenced by many other factors as well.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • vitreoretinal surgery • imaging/image analysis: clinical