AF in Myriad Retinal Degenerations- Part 1 – Page 5 of 57

KEY:
Color Optomap
Auto Fluorescence

Although the color and the AF images are grossly similar, some important differences are observed. The round and oval zones of hypo-AF which represent loss of the RPE and corresponding photoreceptors is not revealed in the color images. Hence, the pigment clumping and pigment migration seen with an ophthalmoscope and with color fundus images does not represent the full extent of the RPE loss. In addition, the stressed or sick RPE cells indicated by the hyper-AF is not observed in the color images. AF will soon prove to be quite valuable in studies of the experimental treatment of RP with agents such as QLT.¹ Can treatment decrease the hyper-AF zones and prevent these from progressing to hypo-AF areas?