To evaluate various types and; characteristics of non-retinal lesions associated with ultra-wide field scanning laser ophthalmoscope images.

This retrospective study included 139 eyes of 139 patients with non-retinal lesions observed on color images obtained using Optomap 200Tx (Optos PLC, Dunfermline, Scotland, UK). The non-retinal lesion is a hyperreflective or hyporeflective shadow due to anterior segment of the eye or vitreous except the retina. Types and characteristics of red laser separation, green laser separation and autofluorescence images of non-retinal lesions were evaluated.

All non-retinal lesions in images were categorized into 2 groups according to the location of non-retinal lesions. The anterior non-retinal lesions group included corneal opacity, cataract and posterior capsular opacity. The posterior non-retinal lesions group included asteroid hyalosis, posterior vitreous detachment, vitreous opacity and vitreous hemorrhage. Anterior non-retinal lesions were more often hyporeflective in red and green laser separation images ( p < 0.001). Posterior non-retinal lesions were more often hyperreflective in green laser separation images and hyporeflective in red laser separation images ( p < 0.001).

Ultra-wide field scanning laser ophthalmoscope images can frequently have various shadows from anterior or posterior lesions of the eye. These shadows show a difference in reflectivity depending on their origins. To understand the difference helps in the interpretation of the fundus images.