In Vivo Imaging of the Photoreceptor Mosaic in Retinal Dystrophies and Correlations with Visual Function

Abstract

AO fundus imaging is a reliable technique for assessing and quantifying the changes in the photoreceptor layer as disease progresses. Furthermore, this technique can be useful in cases where visual function tests provide borderline or ambiguous results, as it allows visualization of individual photoreceptors.

Positioning of Electronic Subretinal Implants in Blind Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients Through Multimodal Assessment of Retinal Structures

“…The AO imaging of the retina is a powerful tool to assess and monitor functional versus nonfunctional photoreceptor cells in the living human eye in retinal dystrophies. Choi et al 38 demonstrated a clear correlation between functional vision loss and the extent of cone density decline, and confirmed earlier histological data by showing apoptotic death of the photoreceptors in diseased retinas in vivo.…”

Photoreceptor images of normal eyes and of eyes with macular dystrophy obtained in vivo with an adaptive optics fundus camera

“…4). 8 The fi xation point on the retina was also located in the surrounding rough bright-colored area. The AO image showed a rather uniform distribution of white spots whose separation was consistent with the cone mosaic.…”

Advances in Retinal Imaging

“…In many of the aforementioned studies, genetic defects are confirmed and explored directly in the live eye [260]. Diseases such as rod-cone dystrophy are also being examined [261][262][263]. Systems are slowly migrating from the research lab into the clinic for use on patients with a variety of diseases and conditions [96,264,265].…”

“…Choi et al used an AO fundus imager to correlate cone densities to functional findings (visual field and multifocal ERG) in rod-cone, cone-rod, and juvenile macular dystrophies [261]. Others have used AOSLO to examine patients with inherited retinal disease, including cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, and bilateral progressive maculopathy [260,263,264].…”