Fluorescein angiography

Retinal photography; Eye 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. After the first group of pictures is taken, a dye called fluorescein is injected into a vein. Most often it is injected at the inside of your elbow. A camera-like device takes pictures as the dye moves through the blood vessels in the back of your eye.

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 health care provide about any allergies, particularly reactions to iodine.

You must sign an informed consent form. You must remove contact lenses before the test.

Tell the provider if you may be pregnant.

When the needle is inserted, some people feel slight pain. Other 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 darker. It may be orange in color for a day or two after the test.

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 value on 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 edema
• Macular degeneration
• Microaneurysms -- enlargement of capillaries in the retina
• Tumors
• Swelling of the optic disc

The test may also be done if you have:

• Retinal detachment
• Retinitis pigmentosa

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.