Abstract

FR.15.05

Electroretinography and fundus autofluorescence used for differentiation of cell groups involved in retinal degenerations

Agnes B. Renner1, Ulrich Kellner2,3
1Augenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Deutschland; 2AugenZentrum Siegburg, Deutschland; 3RetinaScience, Bonn, Deutschland

Challenging features of inherited retinal degenerations are their heterogeneity, high phenotypic variability and rareness. In addition, the phenotype can be various between unrelated or related individuals carrying identical mutations. Furthermore, the fundus lesions can change during disease progression. All these can cause delay of diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Therefore, special diagnostic methods are necessary to evaluate retinal function and morphology. Electroretinography (full-field ERG, multifocal ERG) helps to differentiate between generalized and central retinal dysfunction and allows evaluating of the rod and cone system separately. A negative ERG reveals dysfunction of transmission in the inner retina. Increased lipofuscin accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) indicates disturbed cell function and is a common feature of several retinal disorders. Because of that, it is of interest to illustrate in vivo the distribution of lipofuscin to evaluate indirectly the RPE. A confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope is used to visualize the fundus autofluorescence (FAF). Since this method is available in the clinic, the importance of FAF is growing continuously and FAF imaging is now of high value for the diagnosis of inherited retinal degenerations.

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