Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare eyes with areas of geography atrophy (GA) as detected with fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging and with spectral optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the similarities and difference.
Methods: :
Thirty eyes of 18 patients with geographic atrophy patterns were imaged for Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) patterns using HRA 2 (Heidelberg Engineering Heidelberg Germany), Topcon 50 IX fundus camera equipped with autofluorescent filters (580 nm excitation and 695 nm barrier filters), digital camera (Kodak Megaplus 1.4i) and ImageNet software (Topcon Corporation, Japan). The areas with GA were then scanned using 3D-OCT spectral domain OCT (Topcon Corporation, Japan).The FAF images were imported into Topcon 3D-1000. They were aligned with the spectral 3D-OCT images using the Topcon alignment tool.
Results: :
The images taken on both FAF systems were centered and focused on the macula and other posterior pole pathology.Clinically comparable and useful autofluorescence imaging can be performed with either the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope or a modified digital fundus camera.The SLO generates images with higher contrast.The optic nerve, the retinal vessels and the macular pigment all have increased hypoflouresence when compared to the fundus camera because of the greater contrast of the HRA2.A wider field size is available from the fundus camera system.Autofluorescence imaging may play an important role in the evaluation of retinal pathology in both investigational as well as clinical practice settings.
Conclusions: :
Together the Topcon 3D-OCT the two methods of FAF imaging all provided useful diagnostic information and further enhance our understanding and interpretation of geographic atrophy patterns of the RPE. Further clinical studies are planned.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical