We observed abnormal RPE/Bruch's membrane complex and EZ band externally to the NIR-AF signal area.<b>Conclusions</b>: NIR-AF imaging confirms an early RPE involvement allowing us to identify and to quantify the RPE pigment loss in choroideremia.
NIR-AF profiles revealed that even in areas of preserved retina, the NIR-AF signal from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) melanin is greatly reduced. qAF was reduced overall.
Quantitation of SW-AF (qAF), construction of qAF color-coded maps, and examination of NIR-AF images from GPR143/OA1 carriers revealed mosaics in which patches of fundus exhibiting NIR-AF signal had qAF levels within normal limits whereas the hypopigmented areas in the NIR-AF image corresponded to foci of elevated qAF. qAF also was increased in albino versus pigmented mice.
Deterioration of the macula was observed to begin with an intense, homogeneous signal on short-wavelength autofluorescence, which corresponds to an attenuated NIR-AF signal and progresses to a patchy, coalescing pattern of chorioretinal atrophy within the subsequent decade.