PLoS ONE (Jan 2019)

Fundus autofluorescence and retinal sensitivity in fellow eyes of age-related macular degeneration in Japan.

  • Tsutomu Yasukawa,
  • Ryusaburo Mori,
  • Miki Sawa,
  • Ari Shinojima,
  • Chikako Hara,
  • Tetsuju Sekiryu,
  • Yuji Oshima,
  • Masaaki Saito,
  • Yukinori Sugano,
  • Aki Kato,
  • Masayuki Ashikari,
  • Yoshio Hirano,
  • Hitomi Asato,
  • Mayumi Nakamura,
  • Kiyoshi Matsuno,
  • Noriyuki Kuno,
  • Erika Kimura,
  • Takeshi Nishiyama,
  • Mitsuko Yuzawa,
  • Tatsuro Ishibashi,
  • Yuichiro Ogura,
  • Tomohiro Iida,
  • Fumi Gomi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213161
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 2
p. e0213161

Abstract

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PurposeAbnormal fundus autofluorescence (FAF) potentially precedes onset of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasian patients. Many differences exist between Asian and Caucasian patients regarding AMD types and severity, gender, and genetic backgrounds. We investigated the characteristics of abnormal FAF and retinal sensitivity in the fellow eyes of Japanese patients with unilateral neovascular AMD.MethodsSixty-six patients with unilateral neovascular AMD and abnormal FAF in the fellow eye were enrolled in this multicenter, prospective, observational study. The best-corrected visual acuity, fundus photographs, FAF images, and retinal sensitivity on microperimetry were measured periodically for 12 months. The FAF images were classified into eight patterns based on the International Fundus Autofluorescence Classification Group. The points measured by microperimetry were superimposed onto the FAF images and fundus photographs and classified as "within," "close," and "distant," based on the distance from the abnormal FAF and other findings. The relationship between the location of the baseline abnormal FAF and retinal sensitivity was investigated.ResultsIn Japanese patients, patchy (33.3%) and focally increased (30.3%) patterns predominated in the abnormal FAF. Intermediate-to-large drusen was associated predominantly with hyperfluorescence and hypofluorescence. Neovascular AMD developed within 1 year in six (9.1%) eyes, the mean baseline retinal sensitivity of which was 12.8 ± 4.7 dB, significantly (pConclusionIn Japanese patients, patchy and focally increased patterns predominated in the abnormal FAF. The retinal sensitivity was lower close to/within the abnormal FAF. FAF and microperimetry are useful to assess macular function before development of neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy.