Cellular-Level Characterization of Cone Photoreceptors and Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Stargardt Disease with Adaptive Optics Imaging.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to simultaneously visualize cone photoreceptors (cone) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells at the cellular level in Stargardt disease (STGD) using adaptive optics (AO) imaging. In addition, the feasibility of quantitative analysis was explored.

DESIGN

Observational case series.

SUBJECTS: Patients with STGD.

METHODS

Cone and RPE cells were simultaneously imaged at the cellular level using AO flood-illumination ophthalmoscopy (AO-FIO) and AO transscleral flood illumination (AO-TFI). Quantitative metrics were derived and normalized as z-scores to provide an exploratory assessment of the feasibility of cellular-level quantification.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cellular-level cone and RPE integrity and abnormalities assessed by simultaneous AO-FIO and AO-TFI imaging.

RESULTS

Using AO-FIO and AO-TFI, cone and RPE cells could be simultaneously visualized in eyes with STGD. In a subset of cases, cellular-level quantitative analysis was feasible. Imaging findings varied across patients and retinal regions, showing heterogeneous degrees of structural alteration in cone and RPE cells. In the quantitatively analyzed cases, cone density z-scores showed marked reductions, with the lowest values of -3.28 in case 1 and -2.90 in case 2, whereas RPE cell density z-scores showed only mild deviations and remained within the reference range in the analyzed regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Adaptive optics flood-illumination ophthalmoscopy and AO-TFI enable simultaneous cellular-level visualization of cone and RPE cells in STGD. This study characterized cellular-level structural features in STGD and demonstrated the feasibility of quantitative analysis in a subset of cases. These findings could contribute to a deeper understanding of STGD pathology and support future investigations aimed at treatment optimization.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.