| Fluorescein angiography | |
|---|---|
 Retina during the effects of fluorescein angiography | |
| Other names | Fluorescent angiography |
| ICD-9-CM | 95.12 |
| MeSH | D005451 |
Fluorescein angiography[1] (FA), fluorescent angiography (FAG), or fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is a technique for examining the circulation of the retina and choroid (parts of the fundus) using a fluorescent dye and a specialized camera. Sodium fluorescein is added into the systemic circulation, the retina is illuminated with blue-green light at a wavelength of 490 nanometers, and an angiogram is obtained by photographing the fluorescent green light that is emitted by the dye. The fluorescein is administered intravenously in intravenous fluorescein angiography (IVFA) and orally in oral fluorescein angiography (OFA). The test is a dye tracing method.
The fluorescein dye also reappears in the patient urine, causing the urine to appear darker, and sometimes orange.[2] It can also cause discolouration of the saliva.
Fluorescein angiography is one of several health care applications of this dye, all of which have a risk of severe adverse effects. See fluorescein safety in health care applications. Fluorescein angiography does not involve the use of ionizing radiation.[3]
Fluorescein angiography was pioneered by German ophthalmologist Achim Wessing, who published his findings in 1969.
- ^ Fluorescein+Angiography at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- ^ "Fluorescein angiography". U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedLine Plus. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
WillsEye4thwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).