Quantitative analysis of fluorescence lifetime measurements of the macula using the fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope in healthy subjects.

Dysli, Chantal-Simone; Quellec, Gwénolé; Abegg, Mathias; Menke, Marcel N; Wolf-Schnurrbusch, Ute; Kowal, Horst Jens; Blatz, Johannes; La Schiazza, Olivier; Leichtle, Alexander Benedikt; Wolf, Sebastian; Zinkernagel, Martin S (2014). Quantitative analysis of fluorescence lifetime measurements of the macula using the fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope in healthy subjects. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 55(4), pp. 2106-2113. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 10.1167/iovs.13-13627

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PURPOSE

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) cannot only be characterized by the intensity or the emission spectrum, but also by its lifetime. As the lifetime of a fluorescent molecule is sensitive to its local microenvironment, this technique may provide more information than fundus autofluorescence imaging. We report here the characteristics and repeatability of FAF lifetime measurements of the human macula using a new fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope (FLIO).

METHODS

A total of 31 healthy phakic subjects were included in this study with an age range from 22 to 61 years. For image acquisition, a fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscope based on a Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis system was used. Fluorescence lifetime maps of the retina were recorded in a short- (498-560 nm) and a long- (560-720 nm) spectral channel. For quantification of fluorescence lifetimes a standard ETDRS grid was used.

RESULTS

Mean fluorescence lifetimes were shortest in the fovea, with 208 picoseconds for the short-spectral channel and 239 picoseconds for the long-spectral channel, respectively. Fluorescence lifetimes increased from the central area to the outer ring of the ETDRS grid. The test-retest reliability of FLIO was very high for all ETDRS areas (Spearman's ρ = 0.80 for the short- and 0.97 for the long-spectral channel, P < 0.0001). Fluorescence lifetimes increased with age.

CONCLUSIONS

The FLIO allows reproducible measurements of fluorescence lifetimes of the macula in healthy subjects. By using a custom-built software, we were able to quantify fluorescence lifetimes within the ETDRS grid. Establishing a clinically accessible standard against which to measure FAF lifetimes within the retina is a prerequisite for future studies in retinal disease.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - AI in Medical Imaging Laboratory 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ophthalmology 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Institute of Clinical Chemistry
UniBE Contributor:	Dysli, Chantal-Simone, Abegg, Mathias, Menke, Marcel, Wolf-Schnurrbusch, Ute, Kowal, Horst Jens, Leichtle, Alexander Benedikt (B), Wolf, Sebastian (B), Zinkernagel, Martin Sebastian
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0146-0404
Publisher:	Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Language:	English
Submitter:	Sebastian Wolf
Date Deposited:	10 Oct 2014 15:39
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 23:25
Publisher DOI:	10.1167/iovs.13-13627
PubMed ID:	24569585
Uncontrolled Keywords:	fluorescence lifetimes, fundus autofluorescence, macula, validation studies
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/53509