Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of the retinal pigment epithelium: age-related studies

Author

Cubeddu, Rinaldo ; Docchio, Franco ; Ramponi, Roberta ; Boulton, Mike

Author_Institution

Centro di Elettronica Quantistica e Strumentazione Elettronica, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Volume

26

Issue

12

fYear

1990

fDate

12/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2218

Lastpage

2225

Abstract

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy shows promise as a high-sensitivity, high-discrimination tool for diagnostic purposes. The application of this technique to the study and the diagnosis of aging processes within ocular tissues is investigated. An age-related study of the pigments (melanin, lipofuscin, and melanolipofuscin) of the retinal pigment epithelium, performed using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy with picosecond gating, is presented. The study was performed on intact pigment granules, extracted with soft procedures, and the results have been correlated with the ultrastructure of the granules and with the results of continuous-wave absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Both classes of pigments exhibit age-related fluorescence properties

Keywords

biomedical measurement; eye; fluorescence; patient diagnosis; time resolved spectroscopy; aging processes; continuous-wave absorption; diagnosis; intact pigment granules; lipofuscin; melanin; melanolipofuscin; ocular tissues; picosecond gating; retinal pigment epithelium; soft procedures; time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy; ultrastructure; Absorption; Aging; Fluorescence; Helium; In vivo; Monitoring; Performance evaluation; Pigmentation; Retina; Spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.64358

Filename

64358