At Pure Sight Eye Surgeons, angiography is performed by Dr Adam Plant,Dr Joanne Teong, and Dr Joshua Givorshner as part of their comprehensive retinal disease management.
Fluorescein Angiography
Involves injecting a fluorescent yellow dye into a vein in your arm. As the dye circulates through the retinal blood vessels, a specialised camera takes rapid photographs revealing areas of leakage, blockage, abnormal vessel growth, or poor blood flow. Commonly used for wet AMD, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and certain types of uveitis.
Indocyanine Green Angiography
Uses a different dye to highlight the deeper choroidal blood vessels. Particularly useful for conditions like polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and central serous chorioretinopathy.
What to Expect
The test takes 15 to 30 minutes. Your pupils are dilated, a small needle is placed in your arm, the dye is injected, and photographs are taken as the dye passes through the eye’s blood vessels. After fluorescein angiography, your urine may appear bright yellow or orange for 24 to 48 hours, which is normal.
Is the Test Safe?
Generally very safe. Mild side effects can include temporary nausea and a warm sensation. Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you have allergies to fluorescein, ICG, iodine, or shellfish, inform your doctor beforehand. These tests are not routinely recommended during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need this test?
Angiography provides information about blood vessel health that can’t be obtained from other tests, guiding treatment decisions for conditions like wet AMD and diabetic eye disease.
How often will I need this test?
This depends on your condition. OCT-angiography imaging has reduced the frequency needed in many conditions, but there are situations where angiography provides essential information that OCT alone can’t.