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Test Overview | |
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Why It Is Done | |
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How To Prepare | |
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How It Is Done | |
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How It Feels | |
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Risks | |
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Results | |
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What Affects the Test | |
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What To Think About | |
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An eye angiogram uses a yellow dye (fluorescein) and a camera to take pictures and evaluate the blood flow through the vessels in the back of the eye (retina).
See an illustration of the
structures
of the eye
.
During an eye angiogram, the dye is injected into a vein in your arm. Once injected, it takes about 10 to 15 seconds to circulate through your body. As the dye enters the blood vessels in your eyes, a series of photos are taken to chart the dye's progress. More pictures are taken after most of the dye has passed through your eyes to see whether any of it has leaked out of the blood vessels. Any dye that leaks out of the blood vessels will color the tissues and fluid in the eye. Filters in the camera allow the areas colored by the dye to show up in the photos.
A dye called indocyanine green may be substituted for fluorescein. It allows the health professional to see whether the blood vessels underneath the retina are leaking.
Unlike other angiogram procedures, an eye angiogram is not an X-ray procedure, so you are not exposed to any radiation.
Eye angiogram is done to:
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before the test. After the test, do not put soft contact lenses back in your eyes for at least 4 hours because the contacts may become stained from the dye used for the test.
Before the test, tell your health professional if you:
Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have
regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the
results may indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill
out the
medical test
information form
(What is a PDF document?).
After the test:
Eye angiogram is done in a hospital or surgical center by an ophthalmologist.
Before the test, the health professional uses drops to widen, or dilate, your pupils. You will be seated in an examining chair facing the camera. You should loosen or remove any restrictive clothing around your neck. You will be asked to place your chin on a chin rest and your forehead against a bar to stabilize your head. Keep your teeth closed, open your eyes as widely as you can, and stare straight ahead while breathing and blinking normally. A few photographs will be taken.
An IV needle is then placed in a vein in your arm and the dye is injected. Once injected, it takes about 10 to 15 seconds for the dye to be visible in the blood vessels in your eyes.
As the dye enters the eyes, a rapid series of photos is taken to chart the dye's progress through the blood vessels in your eyes. The dye makes the blood vessels show up clearly in the photos. More photos are taken after most of the dye has passed through the eyes to see whether any of the blood vessels are leaking the dye. If dye leaks out of a blood vessel, it will color the surrounding tissue and fluid in the eye.
The test usually takes about 30 minutes, unless additional photos are needed. If more photos are needed, you will rest for 20 minutes before 5 to 10 more photos are taken. Photos can be taken up to 1 hour after an injection.
When fluorescein dye is injected into your arm, you may notice a metallic taste in your mouth, mild nausea, and a brief sensation of warmth.
After the test, your skin, the whites of your eyes, and your urine may be bright yellow or orange, but these effects wear off in 24 to 48 hours.
Because of the dilating eyedrops, your vision may be blurred, and your eyes may be sensitive to light for up to 12 hours. Avoid bright light and sunshine. Wear dark glasses when you go outside.
While the fluorescein dye is injected, you may become nauseated and feel flushed. These symptoms pass quickly.
Some people are allergic to the dye. In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) may develop, and emergency treatment may be needed. Tell your health professional if you feel lightheaded, need to vomit, or have itching and hives after the dye is injected.
Dye that leaks out of the vein around the injection site may cause pain and may injure the skin.
An eye angiogram uses a yellow dye (fluorescein) and a camera to take pictures and evaluate the blood flow through the vessels in the back of the eye (retina).
This test takes about 30 minutes. Results are usually available right away.
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| Abnormal: | |
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Many conditions can change eye angiogram results. Your health professional will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to your symptoms and medical history.
Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include:
Other Works Consulted
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. (2004). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2004). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Handbook of Diagnostic Tests (2003). 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2002). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby.
| Author | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ian MacDonald, MDCM, FRCSC - Ophthalmology |
| Last Updated | July 29, 2005 |
| To | back to the top |
| Eye Angiogram | Previous | Next |
| Last updated: July 29, 2005 |
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