Short-Wavelength and Infrared Autofluorescence Imaging in Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between short-wavelength autofluorescence (SWAF) and infrared autofluorescence (IRAF) patterns in pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) with serous retinal detachment (SRD).

METHODS

This study used an observational case series of 62 eyes of 58 consecutive patients diagnosed with symptomatic PNV from January 2019 and October 2021 at a single institution. SWAF and IRAF patterns were analyzed with disease chronicity, and autofluorescence changes in macular neovascularization (MNV) were assessed in two images.

RESULTS

SWAF patterns and the mean duration of symptoms were as follows: blocked (15 eyes, 24%), 1.0 months; mottled (8 eyes, 13%), 2.8 months; hyper (24 eyes, 39%), 5.0 months; hyper/hypo (10 eyes, 16%), 7.0 months; descending tract (5 eyes, 8%), 12.0 months (p < 0.01). IRAF patterns and the mean duration of symptoms were as follows: blocked (17 eyes, 27%), 1.0 months; hyper (22 eyes, 35%), 4.0 months; mixed/hyper dominant (9 eyes, 15%), 5.0 months; mixed/hypo dominant (9 eyes, 15%), 6.8 months; descending tract (5 eyes, 8%), 12.0 months (p < 0.01). Abnormal autofluorescence corresponding to MNV lesion was seen in 34 eyes (55%) with SWAF and 59 eyes (95%) with IRAF (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

SWAF and IRAF show multiple patterns and are related to disease chronicity in symptomatic PNV. IRAF could be helpful in detecting the lesion of MNV.