Fundus autofluorescence imaging using red excitation light

Scientific Reports · 6 authors, 4 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

“

TL;DR

This feasibility study evaluated a novel confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope equipped with red excitation lasers (642 nm and 705 nm) for fundus autofluorescence imaging in healthy eyes and patients with retinal diseases and cataract. R-AF imaging produced high-quality fundus autofluorescence images with improved foveal assessment, reduced discomfort, and fewer safety concerns compared to short-wavelength AF imaging.

Full summary

734 CHARS

R-AF enabled improved foveal assessment because red light is not absorbed by macular pigment, allowing detailed evaluation of macular pathologies including AMD and Stargardt disease. R-AF yielded high-quality images in patients with cataract and was associated with improved patient comfort compared to short-wavelength AF. R-AF also provided combined information from both SW-AF and NIR-AF in ABCA4-related retinopathy. Laser exposure was approximately 8–12 times below the ANSI accessible emission limit, and no photochemical retinal hazard exists at wavelengths above 600 nm. Limitations include the relatively small number of subjects and diseases investigated, and the inability to perform fluorescein angiography with red light.

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

ophthalmology

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10279676

Fundus autofluorescence imaging using red excitation light

Scientific Reports

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Abstract Retinal disease accounts significantly for visual impairment and blindness. An important role in the pathophysiology of retinal disease and aging is attributed to lipofuscin, a complex of fluorescent metabolites. Fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging allows non-invasive mapping of lipofuscin and is a key technology to diagnose and monitor retinal disease. However, currently used short-wavelength (SW) excitation light has several limitations, including glare and discomfort during image acquisition, reduced image quality in case of lens opacities, limited visualization of the central retina, and potential retinal light toxicity. Here, we establish a novel imaging modality which uses red excitation light (R-AF) and overcomes these drawbacks. R-AF images are high-quality, high-contrast fundus images and image interpretation may build on clinical experience due to similar appearance of pathology as on SW-AF images. Additionally, R-AF images may uncover disease features that previously remained undetected. The R-AF signal increases with higher abundance of lipofuscin and does not depend on photopigment bleaching or on the amount of macular pigment. Improved patient comfort, limited effect of cataract on image quality, and lack of safety concerns qualify R-AF for routine clinical monitoring, e.g. for patients with age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, or for quantitative analysis of AF signal intensity. Subject terms: Retinal diseases, Eye diseases

CITATION EXPORT

Johannes Birtel, Tobias Bauer, Laurenz Pauleikhoff et al.. Fundus autofluorescence imaging using red excitation light. Scientific Reports. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36217-x

AUTHORS

6 · 4 CENTRES

Johannes Birtel, Tobias Bauer, Laurenz Pauleikhoff, Theodor Rüber, Martin Gliem, Peter Charbel Issa

1Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU UK
2Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
3Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
4Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany