Fluorescence lifetimes and choriocapillaris flow deficits in intermediate age-related macular degeneration: a...

To assess the association between retinal fluorescence lifetimes (τm) and choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficits (FD) in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Twenty-six pseudophakic eyes with intermediate, non-exudative AMD (mean age 83 ± 5 years) underwent fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Fluorescence lifetimes were recorded in short- and long-wavelength channels and analyzed across ETDRS subfields. CC flow deficits were quantified using local thresholding. Associations between τm and FD were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation.

Mean τm values were consistently higher in the long-wavelength channel compared to the short-wavelength channel across all subfields. Mean CC FD increased from the outer ring (0.50 ± 0.07) to the central subfield (0.65 ± 0.11). Correlation coefficients between τm and FD ranged from - 0.07 to 0.37, with no statistically significant associations (all p > 0.05).

No statistically significant association was observed between fluorescence lifetimes and choriocapillaris flow deficits in this exploratory cohort. Although both biomarkers are known to be altered in AMD, the absence of evidence for a statistically significant spatial association suggests that FLIO and OCTA may reflect complementary aspects of disease pathology. Larger studies incorporating structural retinal biomarkers and longitudinal follow-up are warranted.

Not applicable.