Progression of Geographic Atrophy and Impact of Fundus Autofluorescence Patterns in Age-related Macular Degeneration

摘要: Purpose To test if fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns around geographic atrophy (GA) have an impact on GA progression rates over time in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Prospective longitudinal multicenter natural history study. Methods Standardized digital FAF images were obtained from 195 eyes of 129 patients with using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (excitation 488 nm, emission >500 nm). Areas quantified and abnormal the junctional zone classified. Repeated a median follow-up period 1.80 years (interquartile range [IQR], 1.28 to 3.34). Results (median, 7.04 mm 2 at baseline; IQR, 3.12 10.0) showed enlargement 1.52 /year (IQR, 0.81 2.33). Progression banded (median 1.81 /year) diffuse pattern (1.77 significantly higher compared without abnormalities (0.38 focal (0.81 /year, P other types (1.67 = .001). Conclusions The results indicate that distinct phenotypic disease AMD may therefore serve as prognostic determinants. findings underscore relevance imaging pathogenetic role excessive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lipofuscin (LF) accumulation GA. Natural data identification high-risk characteristics will be helpful design interventional studies aiming slowing spread atrophy.