Oral Fluorescein Angiography

Yun, Young Soo; Jun, Sam Young; Ha, Ihn Hong

Abstract

Fluorescein angiography has become an indispensable ophthalmic diagnostic tool for detecting retinal and optic nerve pathology. The oral angiography is safer than intravenous angiography and is practical when intravenous administration is difficult. Since the resolution is somewhat inferior to that of intravenous fluorescein angiography, the use of oral fluorescein angiography was limited to the observation of dye leakage and pooling in late phase. We analyzed the sequence of fundus fluorescence following oral administration of the fluorescein dye in 34 subjects. Serial fundus photographs were taken at interval of 30 to 60 seconds for the first 15 minutes, and for the remaining 60 minutes, at interval of 5 to 15 minutes. Optic disc appeared first(6.6 minutes) followed by major vessels on and adjacent to the disc(7.4 minutes), choroidal fluorescence(9.0 minutes) and all the fundus structures(9.8 minutes). The peak fluorescence was detected about 25 minutes after dye ingestion. Sufficient fluorescence was obtained in all the cases without major complications and in the phase of maximal fluorescence, all the fundus structures were clearly visualized. In conclusion, oral fluorescein angiography can be a possible alternative to intravenous fluorescein angiography in whom, intravenous injection is unsuitable.