Fluorescein angiography, or fluorescent angiography, is a technique for examining the circulation of the retina. It involves injection of sodium fluorescein into the systemic circulation, and then an angiogram is obtained by photographing the fluorescence emitted after illumination of the retina with blue light at a wavelength of 490 nanometers.

Equipment

• Excitor filter: allows only blue light to illuminate the retina. It reduces the amount of non-fluorescent light that can reach the film, and allows for maximum excitation of the fluorescein.
• Barrier filter: allows only yellow-green light (from the fluorescence) to reach the camera. It absorbs the blue light used to illuminate the retina.
• Camera with black and white film.

Technique

• Baseline color and red-free filtered images are taken prior to injection. This allows for the recognition of autofluorescence of the retinal tissues.
• Injection of approximately 5cc of sodium fluorescein into a vein in the arm or hand.
• A series of black-and-white photographs are taken of the retina after the fluorescein reaches the retinal circulation (approximately 10 seconds after injection). Photos are taken approximately once every second for about 20 seconds, then less often. A delayed image is obtained at 5 minutes.
• A filter is placed in the camera so only the fluorescent, yellow-green light (530 nm) is recorded. The camera may however pick up signals from pseudofluorescence or autofluorescence. In pseudofluorescence, non-fluorescent light is imaged. This occurs when blue light reflected from the retina passes through the filter, a problem with older filters. In autofluorescence, fluorescence from the eye occurs without injection of the dye. This may be seen with optic nerve head drusen (http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/SECT50a.HTM), astrocytic hamartoma (http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/sect6l4b.htm), or calcific scarring.
• Black-and-white photos give better contrast than color photos, which aren't necessary since only one color is being transmitted though the filter.

Normal circulatory filling

times are approximate

• 0 seconds — injection of fluorescein
• 9.5 sec — posterior ciliary arteries
• 10 sec — choroidal flush
• 10-12 sec — retinal arterial stage
• 13 sec — capillary transition stage
• 14-15 sec — early venous stage (or "lamellar stage", "arterial-venous stage")
• 16-17 sec — venous stage
• 18-20 sec — late venous stage
• 5 minutes — late staining

Pathologic findings

Pathologic changes are recognized by the detection of either hyperfluorescence or hypofluroescence.

Causes of hyperfluorescence:

leaking (i.e. capillary leakage, aneurysm, neovascularization)

pooling (serous retinal detachment)

staining

transmission defects

abnormal vessels

Causes of hypofluorescence:

optical barrier (i.e. blood)

filling defect (capillary blockage)

Among the common groups of ophthalmologic disease, fluorescein angiography can detect diabetic retinopathy, vein occlusions, retinal artery occlusions, edema of the optic disc, and tumors.

Other types of fluorescent angiography

• Isocyanide green angiography

References

• Fluorescein Angiography by Joseph Sowka, O.D. (http://www.nova.edu/~jsowka/fluor.html)
• Angiography images (http://www.biomed.abdn.ac.uk/~mani/abstracts/digitalang.html)