Fluorescein Angiography

The retina has an extensive network of very fine blood vessels which can be affected in many retinal diseases. The best way of assessing these blood vessels is with a flurorescein angiogrqm.

This is an office based diagnostic test which takes about ten minutes to perform. Once a patient’s pupils are fully dilated, a small intravenous is set up in the hand, and a yellow dye called fluorescein is injected. Within ten seconds the dye begins to fill the retina blood vessels and photographs are taken over the course of ten minutes. Identifying various defects and abnormal patterns helps to establish a diagnosis.

An angiogram shows the extensive blood supply to the entire retina. Any defects are easily visible.