Findings on retinal topography and thickness mapping in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To report alterations in the retinal topography and thickness in t ypical cases of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Methods: An optical imaging system was applied to patients with ARMD with a lterations in the retinal structures. The system generates a series of 20 o ptical section images that encompass a 2 mm x 2 mm retinal area. The optica l sections are digitized and analyzed to provide topographic maps of the vi treo-retinal and chorio-retinal surfaces and the retinal thickness. Results: Retinal topography and thickness mapping in a normal eye correspon ded to normal anatomy. Topographic mapping in a patient with confluent drus en indicated elevation of the vitreo-retinal surface. Retinal topography in a patient with retinal pigment epithelium detachment displayed localized e levation of the chorio-retinal surface. The thickness map in a patient with geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium revealed retinal thin ning. In the patients with choroidal neovascularization, the vitreoretinal and chorio-retinal surfaces were elevated. The chorio-retinal surface map i n a patient with evolving disciform scar displayed topographic variations c orresponding to the fibrovascular tissue underlying the serous detachment. Conclusion: Retinal topography and thickness mapping is useful for visualiz ation and evaluation of pathologic alterations in retinal structures due to ARMD.