Fluorescein Angiography and ICG Angiography

Fluorescein, and occasionally, indocyanine green angiography may be performed on your initial visit. This requires a small injection of dye through a vein in the back of one’s hand. This imaging technique allows for the evaluation of fine retinal blood vessels that may be contributing to a patient’s visual disturbance. Angiography is most commonly performed in patients with significant diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and retinal vein occlusion. A sequence of images to both eyes are then taken over the course of 12 to 15 minutes. These images are acquired by a non-contact digital camera and evaluated by Dr. Girschek right away. It is important to let the office staff know if you have an allergy to contrast dye, iodine or shellfish as these are important contraindictations for angiography.  Your skin and urine may become yellow-colored for the next 24 hours and it is important to avoid direct contact with sunlight as much as possible during this time.