Autofluorescence of the Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Normal Aging and in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Histology and Clinical Correlation

Autofluorescence images of the fundus have been part of the routine diagnostics of the human eye for almost two decades. Further development of imaging techniques makes fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging a safe, non-invasive, easy-to-perform and reproducible diagnostic tool. FAF uses the autofluorescent properties of tissues, in particular the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and its fluorophores. FAF images display phenomena of normal aging as well as disease-related changes of the fundus, but also can be used for monitoring retinal diseases and therapy. After a short introduction into the basics of FAF, the results of the latest histology studies regarding age-related and pathological changes of the human RPE will be summarized for a better understanding and interpretation of FAF images. The normal age-related changes of the RPE are contrasted with the pathological changes in age-related macular degeneration, both clinically and histologically.