Autofluorescence imaging findings in long-standing chorioretinal folds.

BACKGROUND Chorioretinal folds typically involve the choroid, Bruch membrane, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and sometimes overlying neurosensory retina. von Winning hypothesized that the alternate banding pattern of choroidal folds shown by fluorescein angiography is explained by RPE density. To our knowledge, autofluorescence imaging of chorioretinal folds has not been previously described. METHODS Case report. PATIENT A 47-year-old healthy hyperopic man had best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Posterior segment examination revealed bilateral chorioretinal folds with subtle streaks of RPE hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation emanating from both optic nerve heads. RESULTS Early-phase fluorescein angiography revealed the characteristic pattern of alternating light and dark bands. Autofluorescence imaging disclosed a similar pattern as well as peripapillary mottling. The alternating patterns of light and dark bands observed using autofluorescence imaging and fluorescein angiography were found to be precisely in register but inverted. CONCLUSIONS Autofluorescence imaging noninvasively demonstrates the pathognomonic pattern of alternating light and dark bands shown by fluorescein angiography diagnostic of choroidal folds but in an inverse fashion. This observation provides independent support of von Winning's hypothesis regarding the etiopathogenesis of the banding pattern.