Fluorescein Angiography

What is fluorescein angiography?

Fluorescein angiography is an eye test in which a special camera takes pictures of the blood vessels inside your eye. Dye is injected into a vein in your arm. A short time later the camera takes pictures of the dye moving through the blood vessels in the back of your eye.

This test takes only a short time and causes little if any discomfort.

When is it used?

Your eye doctor will use this test to find out if the flow of blood is normal in your retina (the tissue at the back of the eye) and to check for abnormal blood vessels or swelling. You may have this test during a checkup when your eye doctor suspects problems with your retina. You may be at risk for problems with your retinas if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell disease, or other health problems.

This test can also be used to see if certain treatments are working.

What happens before the procedure?

Your provider or the person taking the pictures will put eyedrops in your eyes to dilate the pupils.

What happens during the procedure?

You are seated at a camera. An orange dye is injected into a vein in your arm through a needle. The dye travels from your arm to your eyes in a few seconds. Photos are taken quickly as the dye moves through the blood vessels in your eyes. They are taken at various times and the entire test can take up to a half hour or more. The photos can show problems in the back of the eye.

What happens after the procedure?

Sometimes the dye makes your skin look yellow and your urine orange for a few days after the test. These effects are temporary and harmless.

When the test results are available, your doctor will discuss them with you.

What are the risks of this procedure?

About 1 in 10 people have some itching or nausea. Tell your doctor if you have either of these. He or she may give you antihistamines or antinausea medicine if this happens. Reactions more serious than this are very rare.