Multicolor imaging in the diagnosis and follow up of type 2 acute macular neuro-retinopathy

PurposeTo study the usefulness of multicolor imaging (MC) photographs in addition to near infrared reflectance (NIR) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in the detection and follow up of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN).Patients and methodsSix patients with a complaint of paracentral scotomas in at least one eye due to AMN were included. They underwent full ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging including color fundus photographs, (SD-OCT), NIR, and MC at baseline and follow up.ResultsFour females and two males, aged 19–64 years, and eight eyes affected by AMN, were included. Acute phase SD-OCT in all patients confirmed the diagnosis of type 2 AMN with partial recovery of the outer retina in the convalescent phase. NIR and MC elicited in all cases hypo-reflective AMN lesions pointing toward the fovea. MC exhibited a higher contrast between the affected and the physiologic retina that slowly attenuated during the follow up showing a decrease in the hypo-reflectance of the lesions.ConclusionMC imaging was more detailed than fundus color photographs and as detailed as NIR in the detection of AMN. When available, MC imaging should complement SD-OCT and NIR in the diagnosis and follow up of this rare inflammatory condition that may be underdiagnosed