Fluorescein angiography

You will be given eye drops that make your pupil dilate. You will be asked to place your chin on a chin rest and your forehead against a support bar to keep your head still during the test. The health care provider will take pictures of the inside of your eye including the back of your eye (retina). After the first…

You will need someone to drive you home. Your vision may be blurry for up to 12 hours after the test. You may be told to stop taking medicines that could affect the test results. Tell your provider about any allergies, particularly reactions to iodine. You must sign an informed consent form. You must remove contact…

When the needle is inserted, some people feel slight pain. Others feel only a prick or sting. Afterward, there may be some throbbing. When the dye is injected, you may have mild nausea and a warm feeling in your body. These symptoms go away quickly most of the time. The dye will cause your urine to be temporarily…

This test is done to see if there is proper blood flow in the blood vessels in the two layers in the back of your eye (the retina and choroid). It can also be used to diagnose problems in the eye or to determine how well certain eye treatments are working.

A normal result means the vessels appear a normal size, there are no new abnormal vessels, and there are no blockages or leakages.

If blockage or leakage is present, the pictures will map the location for possible treatment. An abnormal result of a fluorescein angiography may be due to: Blood flow (circulatory) problems, such as blockage of the arteries or veins Cancer Diabetic or other retinopathy High blood pressure Inflammation or swelling…

There is a slight chance of infection any time the skin is broken. Rarely, a person is overly sensitive to the dye and may experience: Dizziness or faintness Dry mouth or increased salivation Hives Increased heart rate Metallic taste in mouth Nausea and vomiting Sneezing Serious allergic reactions are rare.

The test results are harder to interpret in people with cataracts. Blood flow problems shown on fluorescein angiography may suggest blood flow problems in other parts of the body.

Chen JJ, Peng M, Haug S, et al. Fluorescein angiography: basic principles and interpretation. In: Sadda SVR, Sarraf D, Freund KB, et al , eds. Ryan's Retina . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 1. Elnahry AG, Ramsey DJ. Automated image alignment for comparing microvascular changes detected by fluorescein…