Accuracy of fundus autofluorescence imaging for the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal conditions: a systematic review

Frampton GK, Kalita N, Payne L, Colquitt J, Loveman E
Record ID 32015000735
English
Authors' objectives: Natural fluorescence in the eye may be increased or decreased by diseases that affect the retina. Imaging methods based on confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) can detect this 'fundus autofluorescence' (FAF) by illuminating the retina using a specific light 'excitation wavelength'. FAF imaging could assist the diagnosis or monitoring of retinal conditions. However, the accuracy of the method for diagnosis or monitoring is unclear. The objective is to conduct a systematic review to determine the accuracy of FAF imaging using cSLO for the diagnosis or monitoring of retinal conditions, including monitoring of response to therapy.
Authors' recommendations: Although already in use in clinical practice, it is unclear whether or not FAF imaging is accurate, and whether or not it is applied and interpreted consistently for the diagnosis and/or monitoring of retinal conditions. Well-designed prospective primary research studies, which conform to the paradigm of diagnostic test accuracy assessment, are required to investigate the accuracy of FAF imaging in diagnosis and monitoring of inherited retinal dystrophies, early age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy and central serous chorioretinopathy.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/1415102
Year Published: 2016
URL for published report: http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/hta20310/#/abstract
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Eye Diseases, Hereditary
  • Optical Imaging
  • Retinal Degeneration
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium
  • Retinal Vein
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright: Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.