FUNDUS AUTOFLUORESCENCE IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR DYSTROPHIES, MALATTIA LEVENTINESE, DOMINANT DRUSEN AND AGE-RELATED DRUSEN

Purpose The lack of histopathological material has placed limitation o n our knowledge on the composition of focal deposits in eyes with macu lar dystrophies, malattia leventinese, dominant drusen and age related macular degeneration. This study was designed to study the compositio n of focal deposits in these eyes by documenting fundus autofluorescen ce in vivo. Methods Fundus autofluorescence was documented in 343 eyes of 199 subjects with macular dystrophies, malattia leventinese, domin ant drusen and age-related macular degeneration using a laser scanning ophthalmoscope (Zeiss, Oberkochen; excitation wavelength: 488 nm, bar rier filter at 521 nm). Results Autofluorescence of focal deposits was increased in eyes with macular dystrophies. In eyes with malattia lev entinese and dominant drusen autofluorescence intensity of focal depos its showed a wide spectrum. In contrast, autofluorescence of age-relat ed drusen was within normal limits. Background autofluorescence intens ity was increased in eyes with macular dystrophies and within normal l imits in eyes with malattia leventinese, dominant drusen and age-relat ed drusen. Conclusion The technique of in-vivo recording of fundus aut ofluorescence allows the differential diagnosis between macular dystro phies/malattia leventinese, dominant drusen/age related drusen when ot herwise not possible.