## Fluorescein Angiography: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Eye Health
### Introduction
Fluorescein angiography is a medical test that uses a special dye to highlight blood vessels in the eye, allowing doctors to visualize the eye’s internal structures and diagnose various conditions.
### Procedure
During the test, a fluorescein dye is injected into a vein in your arm. The dye travels through your bloodstream and into the blood vessels in your eye. A special camera takes a series of images of the eye’s retina and choroid, the two innermost layers of the eye. The images are taken as the dye circulates through the blood vessels, allowing doctors to observe the flow of blood and identify any abnormalities.
### Diagnosis
Fluorescein angiography can help diagnose a wide range of eye conditions, including:
– Diabetic retinopathy
– Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
– Retinal vein occlusion
– Retinal artery occlusion
– Central serous chorioretinopathy
– Choroidal neovascularization
– Ocular inflammation
– Retinal tumors
### Importance
Fluorescein angiography is an important diagnostic tool for eye doctors because it allows them to:
– Visualize the structure and function of the blood vessels in the eye
– Identify areas of leakage or blockage in the blood vessels
– Diagnose and monitor the progression of eye diseases
– Plan and guide treatment strategies
### Alternatives
Other tests that can be used to evaluate the blood vessels in the eye include:
– Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
– Indocyanine green angiography
– Retinal photography
### Preparation
Before the test, you may be asked to:
– Dilate your pupils with eye drops to widen the size of your pupils
– Avoid wearing contact lenses for a few hours before the test
– Inform your doctor about any allergies you have, especially to iodine or contrast agents
### Duration
The test typically takes about 30-60 minutes to complete. You may need to wait for a few minutes until the dye has reached the eye before the images are taken.
### Recommendations
Depending on the results of your fluorescein angiography, your doctor may recommend additional tests or treatments, such as:
– Electroretinography (ERG)
– Fundus autofluorescence (FAF)
– Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A)
– Laser therapy
– Anti-VEGF injections
### Keywords and Phrases
**Fluorescein Angiography Keywords and Phrases:**
– Fluorescein dye injection
– Imaging techniques
– Retinal photography
– Digital angiography
– Indocyanine green angiography
– Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA)
– Ocular angiography
– Fluorescein fundus angiography
– Retina
– Choroid
– Macula
– Vitreous humor
– Optic nerve
– Fluorescein sodium
– Leakage
– Dye extravasation
– Hyperfluorescence
– Hypofluorescence
– Vascular leakage
– Ischemia
– Neovascularization
– Retinal circulation
– Blood-retinal barrier
