Imaging techniques based on retinal autofluorescence have found broad applications in ophthalmology because they are extremely sensitive and noninvasive. Conventional fundus autofluorescence imaging measures fluorescence intensity of endogenous retinal fluorophores. It mainly derives its signal from lipofuscin at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. Fundus autofluorescence, however, can not only be characterized by the spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity or emission spectrum, but also by a characteristic fluorescence lifetime function. The fluorescence lifetime is the average amount of time a fluorophore remains in the excited state following excitation. Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) is an emerging imaging modality for in vivo measurement of lifetimes of endogenous retinal fluorophores. Recent reports in this field have contributed to our understanding of the pathophysiology of various macular and retinal diseases.

Within this review, the basic concept of fluorescence lifetime imaging is provided. It includes technical background information and correlation with in vitro measurements of individual retinal metabolites. In a second part, clinical applications of fluorescence lifetime imaging and fluorescence lifetime features of selected retinal diseases such as Stargardt disease, age-related macular degeneration, choroideremia, central serous chorioretinopathy, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal artery occlusion are discussed. Potential areas of use for fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy will be outlined at the end of this review.

基于视网膜自发荧光的成像技术在眼科领域有着广泛的应用，因为它们极其敏感且无创。传统的眼底自发荧光成像测量内源性视网膜荧光团的荧光强度。它的信号主要来自视网膜色素上皮水平的脂褐质。然而，眼底自发荧光不仅可以通过荧光强度或发射光谱的空间分布来表征，还可以通过特征荧光寿命函数来表征。荧光寿命是荧光团在激发后保持激发态的平均时间。荧光寿命成像检眼镜（FLIO）是一种新兴的成像方式，用于体内测量内源性视网膜荧光团的寿命。该领域的最新报告有助于我们了解各种黄斑和视网膜疾病的病理生理学。

在这篇综述中，提供了荧光寿命成像的基本概念。它包括技术背景信息以及与个体视网膜代谢物体外测量的相关性。第二部分讨论了荧光寿命成像的临床应用以及某些视网膜疾病的荧光寿命特征，例如斯塔加特病、年龄相关性黄斑变性、无脉络膜血症、中心性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变、黄斑裂孔、糖尿病性视网膜病变和视网膜动脉闭塞。本综述的最后将概述荧光寿命成像检眼镜的潜在应用领域。