Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
15 p.
Publication Date
7-2014
Publisher
Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology
Source Publication
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Source ISSN
0146-0404
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-14668
Abstract
Purpose.
We surveyed inner retinal microscopic features in retinal and neurologic disease using a reflectance confocal adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO).
Methods.
Inner retinal images from 101 subjects affected by one of 38 retinal or neurologic conditions and 11 subjects with no known eye disease were examined for the presence of hyper-reflective features other than vasculature, retinal nerve fiber layer, and foveal pit reflex. The hyper-reflective features in the AOSLO images were grouped based on size, location, and subjective texture. Clinical imaging, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photography was analyzed for comparison.
Results.
Seven categories of hyper-reflective inner retinal structures were identified, namely punctate reflectivity, nummular (disc-shaped) reflectivity, granular membrane, waxy membrane, vessel-associated membrane, microcysts, and striate reflectivity. Punctate and nummular reflectivity also was found commonly in normal volunteers, but the features in the remaining five categories were found only in subjects with retinal or neurologic disease. Some of the features were found to change substantially between follow up imaging months apart.
Conclusions.
Confocal reflectance AOSLO imaging revealed a diverse spectrum of normal and pathologic hyper-reflective inner and epiretinal features, some of which were previously unreported. Notably, these features were not disease-specific, suggesting that they might correspond to common mechanisms of degeneration or repair in pathologic states. Although prospective studies with larger and better characterized populations, along with imaging of more extensive retinal areas are needed, the hyper-reflective structures reported here could be used as disease biomarkers, provided their specificity is studied further.
Recommended Citation
Scoles, Drew; Higgins, Brian P.; Cooper, Robert F.; Dubis, Adam M.; Summerfelt, Phyllis; Weinberg, David V.; Kim, Judy E.; Stepien, Kimberly E.; Carroll, Joseph; and Dubra, Alfredo, "Microscopic Inner Retinal Hyper-reflective Phenotypes in Retinal and Neurologic Disease" (2014). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 295.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/295
Comments
Accepted version. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol. 55, No. 7 (July 2014): 4015-4029. DOI. © 2014 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Used with permission.