The retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and deposits of byproducts of the retinal metabolism show an Intrinsic fluorescence. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging, as used In dinical routine Investigation, shows pathologic RPE changes as well as accumulation of byproducts. As It, however, records the fluorescence Intensity only, FAF imaging Is not able to distinguish different fluorophores or their cellular origin. In contrast, fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) records the fluorescence lifetime (average time a molecule remains in the state of fluorescence excitation) and the peak emission wavelength along with the fluorescence intensity. This can highlight retinal and RPE pathology in early disease stages and contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases such as age- related macular degeneration. This talk will introduce the technique of FLIO, summarize Clinical results, discuss limitations, and show latest methodologic developments
About the speaker
Head of the “Experimental Ophthalmology” group at the University Hospital Jena (Germany), PhD in astrophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena
