Background: The selective RPE laser treatment is a new technique which selectively damages the RPE and avoids adverse effects to the neural retina. A problem is the ophthalmoscopically non-visibility of the laser lesions. The aim of the study was to investigate whether fundus autofluorescence (AF), which is derived from the lipofuscin contained by the RPE cells, is changed due to the RPE damage, and thus may be used for non-invasive treatment control.
Methods: A total of 26 patients with macular diseases, i.e. diabetic maculopathy (DMP), soft drusen maculopathy (AMD) and central serous retinopathy (CSR), were treated with repetitive short laser pulses (800 ns) from a green Nd:YAG laser (parameters: 532 nm, 100 and 50 pulses at 500 and 125 Hz, retinal spot diameter 200 micrometer, pulse energies 70-175 microJ). AF was excited by 488 nm and detected by a barrier filter at 500 nm (HRA, Heidelberg engineering). Patients were examined by ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography and autofluorescence measurements at various times after treatment (i.e. 1 h, 1 and 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months).
Results: None of the laser lesions was ophthalmoscopically visible during treatment although fluorescein angiography showed leakage of the irradiated areas. Identification of the lesions was possible by AF imaging showing an intensity decay in the irradiated area in 22 out of 26 patients, predominantly in patients with CSR and AMD. Lesions could be identified as hypoautofluorescent spots 1 h after treatment. During follow-up the laser spots became hyperautofluorescent. In patients with DMP some AF images were less helpful due to diffuse edema and larger retinal thickness.
Conclusion: Imaging of non-visible selective RPE laser effects can be achieved by AF measurements predominantly in patients without retinal edema. Thus AF may replace invasive fluorescein angiography in many cases to verify therapeutic laser success.