Original Paper

Fundus Autofluorescence, Optical Coherence Tomography and Visual Acuity in Adult-Onset Foveomacular Dystrophy
Claudio Furino, Francesco Boscia, Nicola Cardascia, Luigi Sborgia, Carlo Sborgia

Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2008;222:240-244 (DOI: 10.1159/000130427)

  Key Words

• Adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy
• Autofluorescence
• Lipofuscin
• Optical coherence tomography

  Abstract

Aim: We investigated fundus autofluorescence (FA) patterns and tomographic retinal changes by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT 3) in adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy (AOFVD) and their possible correlation with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Methods: Eighteen eyes of 15 consecutive patients (mean age: 73.73 ± 9.5 years) presented to our observation with a diagnosis of AOFVD underwent BCVA measurement, evaluation of FA distribution by means of a confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope and OCT 3 tomography. Results: The mean BCVA was 20/40 (range: 20/20-20/100). The FA pattern was patchy in 9 eyes (50%), ring-like in 5 (27.7%), focal in 3 (16.6%) and linear in 1 (5.5%). No correlation between FA patterns and BCVA was found. OCT 3 showed accumulation of highly reflective material between the neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in 12 eyes (66.6%) with an evident overlying photoreceptor layer (PRL). In 5 eyes the highly reflective material was built up between the neurosensory retina and RPE without evidence of PRL (27.7%). Only in 1 eye was the subretinal accumulation site not well defined (5.5%). The mean thickness of the deposit was 135.52 ± 47.53 µm, while the residual neurosensory retina thickness was 103.94 ± 24.21 µm. The relationship between BCVA and the thickness of the neurosensory retina over the lesion was not significant (p = 0.016, r = 0.33), while the correlation between BCVA and the material deposit thickness (p = 0.017, r = 0.12) was significant. Conclusions: In AOFVD, FA presented different patterns, while OCT usually shows a well-defined material accumulation with a generally reduced neurosensory thickness between PRL and RPE. FA imaging and OCT are useful and safe for the diagnosis and follow-up of AOFVD.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Claudio Furino, MD
Dipartimento di Oftalmologia ed Otorinolaringoiatria, Università di Bari
Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11
IT-70124 Bari (Italy)
Tel. +39 080 547 8916, Fax +39 080 547 8918, E-Mail caf.furino@libero.it

  Article Information

Received: April 19, 2007
Accepted after revision: July 26, 2007
Published online: May 10, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 27