Fundus autofluorescence patterns of submacular fluid resolution following repair of macula-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachments

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Submacular fluid (SMF) can persist for months to years following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) repair. The authors' objective was to describe fundus auto-fluorescence (FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings associated with the absorption of persistent submacular fluid (SMF) following RD repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical data and FAF and OCT imaging from sequential postoperative visits in a cohort of patients with persistent SMF following RD repair. RESULTS: In 11 of 13 eyes with persistent SMF, patches of decreased FAF signal corresponded to SMF on OCT. In eight eyes, there was a hypo- to hyperautofluorescence transition at the time of SMF resolution. These areas of increased FAF signal correlated with inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction loss on OCT. CONCLUSION: FAF imaging can be informative when following SMF after RD repair; a hypo- to hyper-FAF signal transition correlates with SMF resolution and photoreceptor loss.