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. 2011 Mar;25(3):301-8.
doi: 10.1038/eye.2010.221.

Imaging retinal mosaics in the living eye

E A Rossi  1 , M Chung, A Dubra, J J Hunter, W H Merigan, D R Williams
Affiliations

Imaging retinal mosaics in the living eye

E A Rossi et al. Eye (Lond). 2011 Mar.

Abstract

Adaptive optics imaging of cone photoreceptors has provided unique insight into the structure and function of the human visual system and has become an important tool for both basic scientists and clinicians. Recent advances in adaptive optics retinal imaging instrumentation and methodology have allowed us to expand beyond cone imaging. Multi-wavelength and fluorescence imaging methods with adaptive optics have allowed multiple retinal cell types to be imaged simultaneously. These new methods have recently revealed rod photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and the smallest retinal blood vessels. Fluorescence imaging coupled with adaptive optics has been used to examine ganglion cells in living primates. Two-photon imaging combined with adaptive optics can evaluate photoreceptor function non-invasively in the living primate retina.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
AO reveals cone loss in eye disease. (a) Dichromat with cone mosaic indistinguishable from a normal trichromat. (b) Dichromat with M pigment mutation showing dark regions where cones may be damaged or lost; despite the disruption in the cone mosaic this person has excellent spatial vision. Scale is identical for each panel; scale bar is 50 microns.
Figure 2
Figure 2
High-resolution images of the smallest photoreceptors obtained with the new Rochester AOSLO. (a) The complete foveal cone mosaic. (b) The complete peripheral photoreceptor mosaic showing both rods and cones, imaged at 10° temporal and 1° inferior. Scale bars are 20 microns.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Retinal pigment epithelium and individual lipofuscin granules revealed in FAOSLO. (a) Individual RPE cells imaged using FAOSLO in macaque. Scale bar is 100 microns. (b) Outlined region from a showing individual lipofuscin granules; distance between arrowheads is 2 microns, on the order of the size expected for RPE granules.
Figure 4
Figure 4
RPE changes caused by visible light exposure. Pre- (a), immediately post- (b), and 6-days post-exposure (c) images of the RPE cells in locations exposed by a uniform source to 150 μW of 568 nm light for 15 min over ½°. The white squares show the exposure locations. Scale bar is 50 microns.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Cellular structures revealed in the nerve fiber layer. Nerve fiber bundles and cell bodies (indicated by the arrows). Scale bar is 20 microns.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Rhodamine-labelled RGC cell bodies, axons, and dendrites imaged in FAOSLO. Scale bar is 100 microns.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Fluoroscein angiography reveals the smallest perfused capillaries in FAOSLO. (a) Blood vessels around the foveal avascular zone; scale bar is 150 microns. Reproduced from ref. 21 with permission from OSA. (b) Radial peripapillary capillaries; scale bar is 200 microns.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Functional measurements of photoreceptors using two-photon imaging with adaptive optics. (a) Two-photon image of cone inner segments. (b) Cone IR reflectance image of the same retinal location. Scale bar is 10 microns.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Adaptive optics IR reflectance image of macular telangiectasia. Dotted white line indicates a demarcation between an area of healthy appearing cones (to the left) and disrupted cones (to the right). A radial pattern of cystic changes is present surrounding the foveal center (asterisk). Scale bar is ∼300 microns.
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