Ophthalmic photography has at times seemed almost synonymous with fluorescein angiography. For over five decades, ophthalmologists have relied on fluorescein angiography as an important tool in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of retinal disorders. This diagnostic imaging procedure utilizes a fundus camera or a scanning laser ophthalmoscope to capture rapid-sequence photographs of the retinal vasculature following an intravenous injection of fluorescein sodium a bright yellow-green dye that fluoresces under blue light.
This technique facilitates the study of the retinal circulation and is particularly useful in the management of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and vascular occlusions. Angiograms are used to determine the extent of vascular damage, to develop treatment plans or to monitor the results of treatment. As new therapeutic modalities are developed, fluorescein angiography will continue to play an important role in the management of common retinal conditions.
Fluorescein angiography requires a series of photographs that “tells a story” as the appearance of the dye changes over time, offering clues to the underlying vascular causes of impaired vision in certain diseases.
Take a look at the series of tutorials on equipment, technique, and interpretation of fluorescein angiography to learn more: