Assessment of Central Visual Function in Stargardt’s Disease/Fundus Flavimaculatus with Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Ultrahigh-resolution OCT demonstrates excellent visualization of intraretinal morphology and enables quantification of the photoreceptor layer. Thus, for the first time, an in vivo visualization and quantification of transverse, central photoreceptor loss and correlation with visual function is possible. Lower VA corresponds to a greater transverse photoreceptor loss, which also correlates with the extent of changes seen in fluorescein angiography and in fundus autofluorescence. Furthermore, reduced retinal thickness (i.e., atrophy of retinal layers) does not correlate with the transverse extent of PR loss. Thus, it seems that although there may be progressive atrophy of intraretinal layers, an intact photoreceptor layer leads to better VA. UHR-OCT may present a viable alternative to the assessment of central visual function, due to the easy, objective, and noninvasive data acquisition. Therefore, UHR-OCT could be of future use in judging patients' prognoses in Stargardt's disease.

Qualitative and quantitative OCT response of diffuse diabetic macular oedema to macular laser photocoagulation

“…This study showed that eyes with absent or disrupted HRB at baseline had a poorer visual outcome compared with eyes with intact HRB, supporting previous observations that the HRB layer is a valid OCTderived surrogate marker for visual function in DMO and many other retinal diseases. [33][34][35][36][37][38][39] This study reverberates several recent reports that emphasised the correlation of an intact HRB layer with better VA in DMO as well as other retinal diseases.…”

Correlation between visual function and photoreceptor inner/outer segment junction in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

“…It has been reported that a foveal thinning measured with the OCT was correlated with the visual acuity in patients with RP and Stargarrt's disease. 11,12,15 Witkin et al 11 reported that the foveal thinning might be primarily due to photoreceptor loss. In our RP patients, Grade 2 eyes had a fovea as thick as that of eyes in Grade 3, and we assumed that the damage of the photoreceptor in Grade 2 eyes was partial, and that the length of the outer segments was preserved.…”

Optical coherence tomographic pattern and focal electroretinogram in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

“…Similar results were also reported in Stargardt disease. 17 OCT may provide practical, noninvasive, and less time-intensive means to monitor macular function of RP patients. In the present study, we examined whether OCT and fERG have any advantages as objective examinations in monitoring the progression of RP.…”