What is Fluorescein Angiography?

Fluorescein Angiography is a common diagnostic test that uses a special camera to take pictures of the back of your eye. This enables your ophthalmologist to thoroughly diagnose and monitor certain retinal diseases and abnormalities, which may otherwise go undetected without the use of fluorescein angiography. This test may be performed the day of your visit, or scheduled for you to come back another day.

A water-soluble dye, called fluorescein, is injected into a vein of your arm or hand. As the dye circulates throughout your body, the retinal photographer will take multiple pictures of the blood vessels lining the back of your eye as the dye passes through them. After the fluorescein dye is injected, your skin may look faintly yellow for several hours. This does not mean jaundice or hepatitis. As the dye passes through your kidneys, your urine will turn dark orange or yellow over the next twenty-four hours.

A small percentage of individuals may experience nausea or vomiting after the injection of dye. However, this is transient, and usually passes within a minute or two. If some of the dye leaks out from the vein and into your arm under the skin, you may feel a localized burning sensation that lasts only a few minutes. Allergic reactions to fluorescein dye are rare. If they occur, they may cause a skin rash or itching. This is usually treated with oral or injectable antihistamines, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Even more rarely, severe allergic reactions can occur that are life threatening. Please inform your doctor if you are pregnant, had breast surgery or have had an adverse reaction in the past.

After the photos are taken, your doctor will discuss with you what follow up is needed. A treatment plan will be formulated for you by your ophthalmologist after careful examination and interpretation of your angiogram.

Retinal Disorders

Diabetic Retinopathy
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Retinal Vein and Artery Occlusions
Macular Hole
Macular Pucker
Retinal Tears and Detachments
What is Fluorescein Angiography?
What is Photodynamic Therapy?
What is ICG Angiography?
What is optical coherence tomography?

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