Autofluorescence and high-definition optical coherence tomography of retinal artery occlusions

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to illustrate the fundus autofluorescence and high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) features of acute and long-standing retinal artery occlusions. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with acute and chronic retinal and cilioretinal artery occlusions are included in this series. METHODS: A detailed clinical examination, color fundus photographs, autofluorescence, and HD-OCT of the subjects were performed. RESULTS: HD-OCT demonstrates the localized and well-demarcated thickening of the inner retina in the acute phase of arterial occlusions that correlates with the areas of blocked autofluorescence caused by the cloudy swelling of the retina. The areas of blocked autofluorescence disappear with chronicity of the disease and this corresponds to the thinning of the inner retinal layers on HD-OCT. CONCLUSION: Heidelberg OCT and autofluorescence are useful tools to assess retinal arterial occlusions especially in subjects with unexplained visual field loss.