Monitoring of Geographic Atrophy Progression in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Ophthalmoscopy.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
42300673
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine fluorescence lifetime (FLT) changes within the border zone of geographic atrophy (GA) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO).
Methods
Patients with GA due to AMD were included. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) intensity, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus photography, and FLIO imaging were carried out at baseline and approximately 5 years of follow-up. GA progression was measured based on FAF images. FLT were measured at five different regions of interest: fovea, retina unaffected by GA, GA, and two areas directly next to the border zone of atrophy.
Results
Thirty-two eyes of 17 patients (9 female patients, mean age = 77.4 years) were included. The GA area increased by an average of 1.21 mm2/year. At the GA border, FLT gradually decreased toward the unaffected retina at each visit and gradually increased in all zones over time. The FLT gradient at the border zone correlated significantly with the GA growth rate (P = 0.02, r2 = 0.17).
Conclusions
Areas of GA showed significantly prolonged FLT compared to unaffected surrounding retinal tissue, confirming previous reports. The border zone FLT gradient was predictive of GA progression rate.
The purpose of this study was to examine fluorescence lifetime (FLT) changes within the border zone of geographic atrophy (GA) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO).
Methods
Patients with GA due to AMD were included. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) intensity, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), color fundus photography, and FLIO imaging were carried out at baseline and approximately 5 years of follow-up. GA progression was measured based on FAF images. FLT were measured at five different regions of interest: fovea, retina unaffected by GA, GA, and two areas directly next to the border zone of atrophy.
Results
Thirty-two eyes of 17 patients (9 female patients, mean age = 77.4 years) were included. The GA area increased by an average of 1.21 mm2/year. At the GA border, FLT gradually decreased toward the unaffected retina at each visit and gradually increased in all zones over time. The FLT gradient at the border zone correlated significantly with the GA growth rate (P = 0.02, r2 = 0.17).
Conclusions
Areas of GA showed significantly prolonged FLT compared to unaffected surrounding retinal tissue, confirming previous reports. The border zone FLT gradient was predictive of GA progression rate.
Date Issued
2026
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
fluorescence lifetimes (FLTs)
•
fundus autofluorescence (FAF)
•
retinal imaging
•
fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO)
•
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
•
geographic atrophy (GA)
•
disease progression
Language(s)
en
Additional Credits
Journal
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Publisher
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ISSN
1552-5783
0146-0404
Access(Rights)
open.access