Ocular Autofluorescence Imaging
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The retinal pigment epithelium normally contains small amounts of a pigment called lipofuscin, which consists of waste products from the retina.
When the retinal pigment epithelium is disturbed, abnormal amounts of lipofuscin accumulate, to form clumps of 'orange pigment' (so-called, because they usually appear orange on color fundus photography).
Lipofuscin tends to absorb light of one color and to emit light of a different color (i.e.,. tends to 'fluoresce'). Autofluorescence imaging involves photography of the back of the eye with special lights and filters.
Autofluorescence imaging facilitates the detection of lipofuscin, thereby helping to distinguish between benign nevus and malignant melanoma. This is because lipofuscin accumulation is much greater over melanomas than nevi.
When the retinal pigment epithelium is disturbed, abnormal amounts of lipofuscin accumulate, to form clumps of 'orange pigment' (so-called, because they usually appear orange on color fundus photography).
Lipofuscin tends to absorb light of one color and to emit light of a different color (i.e.,. tends to 'fluoresce'). Autofluorescence imaging involves photography of the back of the eye with special lights and filters.
Autofluorescence imaging facilitates the detection of lipofuscin, thereby helping to distinguish between benign nevus and malignant melanoma. This is because lipofuscin accumulation is much greater over melanomas than nevi.