Fundus autofluorescence in uveitis: Meeting an old friend

Abstract

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) represents a relatively new imaging modality that has been investigated in a variety of uveitic disease processes. FAF relies on the presence of innate fluorophores within ocular tissues, which can be induced to emit light when stimulated with specific frequencies of light.Autofluorescence in the RPE depends on the outer segment renewal and can be affected by the RPE's ability to clear lipofuscin. Hence, an increased autofluorescence is seen with RPE dysfunction and a decreased autofluorescence is seen with loss of photorecptors or the RPE.Abnormal autofluorescence patterns have been described in a number of infectious and non‐infectious uveitides. Most reports of abnormal FAF in patients with uveitis belong to the spectrum of white‐dot‐syndromes. In the present course we will review the main autofluorescence abnormalities in disease like Serpiginous and Serpiginous‐like choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis, punctate inner choroiditis, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome and AZOOR. The recognition of theses abnormalities (in combination with other imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography‐angiography) is extremely helpful for understanding their pathogenesis and monitoring the inflammatory activity.