Study Of The Autofluorescence Characteristics In Retinal Lattice Degeneration On Periphery

Objective To observe the characteristics of lipofuscin-related fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and melanin-related near-infrared autofluorescence (NIA) happened in retinal lattice degeneration on periphery. Study the changes of function and metabolism in retinal lattice degeneration by FAF and NIA.Methods68eyes of50patients (22males,28females) with retinal lattice degeneration diagnosed by slit lamp ophthalmoscopy and Optomap200fundus photograph were enrolled. Lipofuscin-related fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and melanin-related near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIA) were obtained with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope HRA2. To compare the autofluorescence (AF) intensity of retinal lattice degeneration and normal retina, AF intensity was divided into strong AF, normal AF, weak AF and negetive AF. To contrast the color fundus images obtained with Optomap200, summarizing the characteristics of FAF and NIA in retinal lattice degeneration, and comparatively analyzing the two kinds of AF.Results There were abnormal FAF in68/68eyes (100%). FAF showed strong fluorescence with the same shape of lattice degeneration and clear borders in12/68eyes (17.6%). strong fluorescence with sheet-like weak or negetive fluorescence, with the same shape of lattice degeneration and clear borders in56/68eyes (82.4%). There were abnormal NIA in57/68eyes (83.8%). NIA showed almost normal fluorescence in11/68eyes (16.2%). slightly strong fluorescence with sheet-like weak or negetive fluorescence, with the same shape of lattice degeneration and slightly clear borders in16/68eyes (23.5%). slightly strong fluorescence with sheet-like weak or negetive fluorescence and unclear borders in41/68eyes (60.3%). Analyzing comparatively the two kinds of AF shows:the intensity of strong fluorescence in FAF is greater than NIA, the position and size of sheet-like weak fluorescence are similar in both FAF and NIA, the borders of lattice degeneration in FAF is clearer than NIA.Conclusion HRA2can be used to obtained AF images in peripheral retinal lattice degeneration clearly. Retinal lattice degeneration had its characteristic autofluorescence manifestation. Lattice degeneration was associated with the accumulation of lipofuscin in RPE cells, while might not linked with melanin.