Diagnostic Tests

Fluorescein Angiography

If any abnormalities of the retina are suspected, your doctor may recommend a fluorescein angiography. Fluorescein angiography is a diagnostic procedure which uses a special camera, called a fundus camera, to take a series of photographs of the back of the eye. A water-soluble dye called fluorescein is injected into a vein in the arm or hand. The dye travels through the veins and arteries which circulate throughout the body. The fundus camera then takes a series of photographs using special filters as the dye passes through the blood vessels of the retina. If the blood vessels are abnormal, the dye may leak into the retina. Abnormal new blood vessels or damage to the lining underneath the retina may also be highlighted. Your doctor will interpret the results of the procedure in order to thoroughly diagnose your condition and determine the best course of treatment.

There are few risks associated with the fluorescein angiography. After the dye is injected, your skin may take on a yellowish color for several hours. The dye is filtered out of your system through the kidneys and will cause your urine to become bright yellow for up to 24 hours following the procedure. Some individuals experience mild nausea which passes within seconds. In the instance that the dye leaks out of the vein at the injection site, some localized burning and yellowing of the skin may occur. The burning lasts only a few minutes and the staining disappears within a few days. Allergic reactions to fluorescein dye are uncommon. If they occur, most experience a skin rash and itching which is typically treated with oral antihistamines depending on the severity of the symptoms. Severe, anaphylactic reactions are extremely rare, but can prove to be life threatening.