[Significance of the digital image in the diagnosis and classification of macular drusen].

Abstract

Macular drusen, hard or soft, have been often observed at the early stages of age-related macular degeneration. Clinically, it has been shown that soft drusen and macular subretinal new vessels are associated in a statistically significative manner. The question is to recognize and to determine drusen at greatest risk for developing choroidal neovascularization? To answer to this question, a method of digital images analysis of fluorescein angiography had been perfected. About ten eyes, preliminary results show, an objective and quantitative difference of the evolution of the grey level during the same angiogram between the different retinal structures. This method would bring a prognostic feature for the long term follow-up of patients with drusen.