The role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of uveitis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe commonly used imaging techniques to diagnose and manage uveitis and its complications. Older imaging techniques, such as fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and newer noninvasive techniques, such as optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence, are reviewed. The transition from film-based imaging to digital imaging has been a remarkable achievement and enables easy storage, immediate access, and efficient propagation of information. The recent introduction of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography systems allows axial resolution of retinal tissue approaching that only previously obtainable with histology, but in real time and without the need of tissue biopsy. Fundus autofluorescence offers the potential to further characterize posterior uveitic entities and expand our understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. Continued advances in technology will improve image resolution, speed, and versatility of systems that will translate into increased capability and greater application to diagnose, treat and monitor uveitic conditions.

Keywords::

• B-scan ultrasonography
• fluorescein angiography
• fundus autofluorescence
• fundus photography
• imaging
• indocyanine green angiography
• macular edema
• ocular inflammation
• optical coherence tomography
• uveitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Stephen Jae Kim is supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (TN, USA). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.