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Fundus Autofluorescence

Meaning

Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) is a sophisticated, non-invasive ophthalmic imaging technique that captures the naturally occurring fluorescence emitted by the metabolic waste product lipofuscin within the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells when illuminated with specific wavelengths of excitation light. This essential imaging modality provides a topographical map of the RPE’s health and metabolic activity, offering crucial diagnostic and prognostic information for various retinal disorders. Clinically, measurable variations in the autofluorescence pattern accurately indicate areas of RPE stress, cellular atrophy, or pathological accumulation of metabolic byproducts.