Fundus Autofluorescence imaging in Age-related Macular degeneration (FAM-Study) using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

• Applicant: Dr. Christian Foja, since 1/2005
• Subject Area: Ophthalmology
• Term: from 2002 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5374078

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in the industrialized world beyond 50 years of age. Several lines of evidence indicate that the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In postmitotic RPE cells autofluorescent lipofuscin granules accumulate with age in the lyosomal compartment mainly as a byproduct of constant phagocytosis of membranous disks shed from distal photoreceptor outer sigments. With the advent of confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fundus autofluorescence (AF) mediated by RPE-lipofuscin can be visualized in vivo. During the first grant period (2000 - 2001) within the network of the priority research program ARMD we established a prospective multicenter trial (FAM-Study - Fundus Autofluorescence Age-related Macular Degeneration) to study variations in fundus AF in patients with ARMD. Additional work included the development of a standardized protocol for AF image aquisition, an automated digital image analysis system, a new classification for patterns of abnormal AF, preliminary data on the effect of elevated AF on retinal sensitivity as well as a set up for AF imaging in vitro. We plan to expand these studies to determine the role of increased AF for progression of disease, to distinguish different phenotypes and to identify novel prognostic factors. These investigations will be performed not only to better understand the role of lipofuscin accumulation in ARMD but also to amnipulate these mechanisms for both experimental and therapeutic ends.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1088: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Participating Person: Dr. Almut Bindewald
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Sebastian Wolf, until 12/2004