Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence for the Evaluation of Retinal Diseases
Published on: March 11, 2016
Fundus autofluorescence in premature infants
Guillermo Salcedo-Villanueva1, Yurico Lopez-Contreras2, Ana Gonzalez-H Leon2
1Retina Department, Asociación Para Evitar La Ceguera en México, IAP, Vicente García Torres #46, Col. San Lucas, CP 04030, Mexico City, Mexico. guillermo.salcedo@apec.com.mx.
Insights
Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns in premature infants were described for the first time. FAF gradually increases with post-gestational age, developing centrifugally from the posterior pole.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatal care
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Premature infants require specialized screening for conditions like Retinopathy of Prematurity.
- Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) is an imaging technique that visualizes retinal pigment. Its patterns in premature infants are not well-described.
- Understanding FAF development in neonates may offer insights into retinal maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns in premature infants.
- To investigate the correlation between FAF patterns and post-gestational age.
- To establish baseline FAF characteristics for this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, observational study involving FAF imaging in premature infants.
- Grading and ranking of hypo-autofluorescence areas including macular pigment, optic nerve head, peripapillary vessels/vascular arcade (PP/VA), and equatorial vessels (EqV).
- Spearman's correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze FAF ranks against corrected gestational age (WCGA).
Main Results:
- Thirteen premature infants were analyzed, with a mean corrected gestational age of 47.85 weeks.
- A strong positive correlation was found between FAF rank and WCGA (r=0.714, P=0.006).
- Peripapillary vessels/vascular arcade (PP/VA) and equatorial vessels (EqV) were significantly more visible in infants >40 WCGA compared to those <40 WCGA.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first description of FAF patterns in premature infants.
- FAF increases with post-gestational age and develops centrifugally from the posterior pole towards the equator.
- These findings establish normative FAF data for premature infants and highlight age-related changes.
Abstract:
To describe fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns in premature infants and to determine whether FAF increases gradually with increasing post-gestational age. This was a cross-sectional, observational and descriptive case series. FAF images were obtained from patients screened for Retinopathy of Prematurity. The presence of the following hypo-autofluorescence areas/structures was graded and ranked: macular pigment (foveal centre), optic nerve head, peripapillary vessels/vascular arcade (PP/VA), and equatorial vessels (EqV). Ranks were attributed to the number of structures visualized from the posterior pole towards the periphery. The rank of FAF could then be analysed by Spearman's correlation against age. Additionally, patients were divided by age into group 1 (< 40 weeks of corrected gestational age (WCGA)) and group 2 (> 40 WCGA). Differences between groups were tested with the Mann-Whitney U test. Thirteen patients were analysed. The mean WCGA at examination was 47.85 weeks. Spearman's correlation showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.714) (P = 0.006) of FAF and WCGA. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the PP/VA and EqV were significantly more visible at > 40 WCGA than at < 40 WCGA (8.0 [P = 0.016] and 7.5 [P = 0.03], respectively). Patterns of FAF are described for the first time in premature infants. FAF increases gradually with age and centrifugally from the posterior pole towards the equator in premature infants.
