The relationship between blue-fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography in eyes with lamellar macular holes

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blue-fundus autofluorescence (B-FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in eyes with lamellar macular holes (LMHs). METHODS. this was a multicenter, observational case series. Ninety-two eyes with LMH associated with the standard epiretinal membrane (ERM) or lamellar hole–associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP) were evaluated. The eyes must also present an area of increased autofluorescence on B-FAF. RESULTS. The ERM-alone group and the LHEP group differed with respect to the following variables: logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (0.13 ± 0.13 vs. 0.25 ± 0.17; P <0.001), central foveal thickness (218.74 ± 52.4 lm vs. 187.28 ± 50.29 lm; P = 0.008), FAF diameter (400.78 ± 189.36 lm vs. 503.37 ± 214.25 lm; P = 0.014), outer plexiform layer (OPL) diameter (382.10 ± 157.34 lm vs. 550.79 ± 228.05 lm; P = 0.0001), and disruption of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, which was noted in only 1 and 3 eyes with ERM alone, respectively, and in 18 and 23 eyes with LHEP, respectively (P <0.0001 for both observations). No difference was found for diameters measured at the level of the inner limiting membrane and schisis/cavitation. In both the ERM-alone group and the LHEP group, a strong correlation was found between the diameters measured on B-FAF and diameters measured at the OPL level on OCT images (P <0.0001 for both groups). CONCLUSIONS. In eyes with LMHs, a strong correlation exists between the diameters of the holes measured with B-FAF and those measured at the OPL level with OCT. This may indicate that the loss or displacement of retinal cells containing macular pigment at the OPL level, specifically photoreceptors and/or Müller cells, is involved in this vitreomaculopathy.