NMOSD Mitochondrial Fluorescence Correlates with Ganglion Cell Layer Loss Consistent with Retinal Vasculitis

Introduction Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO, Heidelberg Engineering, Figures 1 and 2), a novel in vivo retinal imaging biomarker, generates fluorescence decay lifetimes in 2 spectral channels corresponding to mitochondrial metabolic processes Short Spectral Channel (SSC): 498 – 560 nm Ø Corresponds to flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and oxidative phosphorylation. Long Spectral Channel (LSC): 560 – 720nm Ø Corresponds to predominantly lipofuscin and lysosomal function Based upon animal experimental models and clinical data, mitochondrial dysfunction has a role in the pathophysiology of NMOSD