At Murdoch Ophthalmology, we use the Heidelberg Spectralis which allows us to perform Autofluorescence Photography. This provides us with indocyanine green angiography, fluorescein angiography, as well as retinal autofluorescence.
Autofluorescence occurs when light shines onto a substance which emits a light of a different wavelength. This occurs in natural biological tissue such as the retinal pigment called epithelium, as well as non-biological tissues such as banknotes in order to prevent counterfeiting.
Autofluorescence Photography is a complementary test used with clinical examination and retinal angiography in order to provide our clinical staff about the health of your retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Using this technique is very helpful in terms of monitoring slowly progressive diseases of the RPE over time, such as dry macular degeneration. It also allows our clinical staff to detect if any other substances are present within the retina.