High-resolution images in macular disorders

Objective: This study analyzed and compared the results of adaptive optics (AO) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in various maculopathies. Methods: The study included four different types of maculopathy: central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease (STGD) and phototoxic retinopathy. In all four cases, cone mosaic and cone density were obtained using AO fundus camera. Further, the high-resolution images were compared with the FAF and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results. Results: In CSC, FAF and AO, changes could be shown in the macula even two years after the subretinal fluid resorption, as opposed to a normal OCT. The improvement of FAF and cone mosaic appearance was concomitant with the visual acuity growth. Several cone mosaic phenotypes were observed in RP and STGD. In RP, the cone density was 24.240 cones /mm2 in the center, and decreased to 8.163 cones/ mm2 in the parafoveal area. In STGD, the cone density was lower in the center, 9.219 cones/ mm2, and higher at the periphery, 12.594 cones/ mm2. In the case of phototoxic retinopathy, AO and OCT were more effective than FAF in highlighting the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium lesions. Conclusions: FAF and AO are very useful tools in macular pathologies examination. FAF can offer a true picture of the metabolic changes in the macula, while AO allows the view of changes up to the cellular level. Abbreviations: STGD = Stargardt disease, CSC = central serous chorioretinopathy, RP = retinitis pigmentosa, AO = adaptive optics, FAF = fundus autofluorescence