Autofluorescence

optomap af

A non-invasive technique, autofluorescence was developed over the last decade to study the fluorescent properties of lipofuscin, which is a mixture of autofluorescent pigments that accumulate in the retinal pigment epithelium as a byproduct from the incomplete degradation of photoreceptor outer segments.  AF imaging gives information over and above conventional imaging techniques such as fundus photos or fluorescence angiography as it allows visualization of the metabolic changes at the level of the RPE and helps to identify areas that may be at high risk for the development of geographic atrophy or CNV.