Fluorescein (FFA) and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography are simple diagnostic tests, which involve the injection of fluorescein (yellow) dye and/or indocyanine green into your bloodstream via a vein in your hand or arm, followed by a series of photographs taken over several minutes. The FFA test gives your doctor more information about the condition of your retina in the back of your eye. The ICG test provides information about the choroid which lies underneath the retina. These tests help the doctor to consider the best treatment options for you. Please take your medication as normal on the day of your procedure. You may eat and drink as normal.
Fluorescein angiography and ICG are used to diagnose certain eye conditions, such as:
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
Retinal Vein Occlusions
Cystoid Macular Oedema
Retinal Vascular Diseases
Uveitis related diseases
Cause of leaking blood vessels in the eye
The type of Macular Degeneration
The location of areas of leakage
On arrival at our Ophthalmology clinic your vision will be tested.
Your pupils will then be dilated with eye drops; these drops might blur your vision, particularly near vision, for five to six hours. It is therefore advisable not to drive home after your appointment.
You will have the procedure explained to you and you will be asked to sign a consent form to agree to the procedure. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Once your pupils are dilated, you will be taken into the imaging room.
You will be seated at a camera with your arm supported, and some (flash) photos will be taken.
A cannula (small plastic tube) will be inserted into a vein in the back of your hand.
The fluorescein dye and/or indocyanine green will be injected into your arm. A series of flash photos are taken, whilst the dye enters the retinal or choroidal vessels at the back of your eye.
The whole test only takes about 10 to 30 minutes. Please expect to be in the eye clinic for one to two hours so that we can do the necessary pre and post test checks.
It is very important to keep your eye in the position requested by the examiner.
You will be asked about your general health. Please tell us if you have any breathing or heart problems, are pregnant or on renal dialysis, or have photosensitive epilepsy. It is also very important to inform us of any allergies particularly to fluorescein, iodine or iodide, medications, Sulpha drugs or latex. We will use FFA or ICG cautiously in patients that are allergic to shellfish or seafood.
– The Fluorescein dye will give your skin a yellow tinge and your urine will be bright yellow for one or two days. The ICG procedure does not affect the color of your skin or urine.
– You might experience a hot flush sensation as the dye is injected.
– One in 10 patients might feel nauseous or short of breath, or develop a transient rash, but this rarely lasts for more than a few seconds.
– In rare instances, flash photography may trigger an episode of epilepsy or tonic-clonic seizure.
– There is a very remote risk of a severe allergic reaction to these intravenous drugs. For this reason, this examination takes place with an Anesthesiology Consultant.
After the Fluorescein and / or Indocyanine green angiogram the cannula will be left in your hand for 30 minutes. Once we are certain that you have not suffered any adverse reactions, the cannula will be removed. The doctor will discuss the results with you and make recommendations for any treatment you might need.
Athens Eye Care Clinic has one of the most modern fundus cameras with Digital Fluoroangiography and Digital Indocyanine Angiography, the Visucam 524 of the Zeiss company.
Athens EyeCare clinic in the center of Athens is one of the most complete and contemporary technologically equipped Ophthalmology clinic in Greece
