Autofluorescence lifetime characteristics of optic nerve head drusen

Author: Chantal Dysli (Switzerland)

Co-authors: Joel Lincke, Damian Jaggi, Muriel Dysli, Sebastian Wolf, Martin S. Zinkernagel

Purpose

To investigate fluorescence lifetime characteristics of optic nerve head drusen (ONHD).

Setting/Venue

Imaging study in patients with optic nerve head drusen conducted at the University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland.

Methods

A fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Engineering Germany) with 473nm excitation wavelength and two channels to detect emitted fluorescence (498-560nm and 560-720nm) was used. A cohort of 14 eyes with optic nerve head drusen was analyzed. Autofluorescence lifetimes of the ONHD, the optic nerve and the retina were investigated in both spectral channels.

Results

ONHD were clearly identifiable as hyperfluorescent deposits in fundus autofluorescence intensity imaging. They featured fluorescence lifetimes of 1200 to 1600 ps (long and short emission spectrum, respectively) compared to 700 and 900 ps in the area of optic disc without hyperfluorescent ONHD. The surrounding retina featured fluorescence lifetimes of 300 ps.

Conlusions

Optic nerve head drusen as acellular deposits of metabolic byproducts and components of degradation, feature clearly prolonged fluorescence lifetimes. Fluorescence lifetime analysis of hyperfluorescent deposits may be useful in order to identify its specific content and development over time. This might be helpful for further insight in the pathogenesis of deposits in the retina and the optic nerve head.

Financial Disclosure

none