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Updated: Oct 23, 2026
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence for the Evaluation of Retinal Diseases
Published on: March 11, 2016
Classification of fundus autofluorescence abnormal patterns in diabetic macular edema
Sergio Hernández-Da Mota1, Virgilio Lima-Gómez2, Ernesto Rodríguez-Ayala3
1Clínica David, Ophthalmologic Unit, Morelia, Michoacán; Ophthalmology Department, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
Introduction:
Patients with diabetic macular edema can develop fundus autofluorescence alterations; thus far, these alterations have been more widely studied with scanning or confocal laser systems.
Objective:
To describe and classify fundus autofluorescence abnormal patterns in patients with diabetic macular edema using the fundus autofluorescence system with a flash camera.
Method:
Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Fundus autofluorescence digital images of non-comparative cases with untreated diabetic macular edema, obtained and stored with a flash camera system, were assessed. Inter-observer variability was evaluated.
Results:
37 eyes of 20 patients were included. Lens opacity was the most common cause of inadequate image quality. Five different fundus autofluorescence patterns were observed: decreased (13%), normal (40%), single-spot hyper-autofluorescent (17 %), multiple-spot hyper-autofluorescent (22 %) and plaque-like hyper-autofluorescent (8 %). The kappa coefficient was 0.906 (p = 0.000).
Conclusions:
Different fundus autofluorescence phenotypic patterns are observed with flash camera systems in patients with diabetic macular edema. A more accurate phenotypic classification could help establish prognostic factors for visual loss or for the design of clinical trials for diabetic macular edema.
