ICG Indocyanine Angiography

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What exactly is angiography?

Angiography is a diagnostic test that allows the ophthalmologist to thoroughly study the area of the retina (the light sensitive tunic to the capture visual information) and the choroid (the blood vessels behind the retina). In the diagnostic technique of angiography the injection of a dye into a vein in your hand is performed. This dye passes through the blood vessels of the human body, and reaches the vessels of the diseased eye.

Afterwards, with a specific imaging system (the latest generation of ophthalmology equipment) a number of special special shots (photos) is received, analyzing the pathology of the fundus. The pigments used are fluorescein (in fluorescein angiography) and indocyanine green (indocyanine green – in indocyanine angiography).

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What is the usefulness of angiography?

With angiography mapping of the ocular damage is achieved. The information gained from this test helps the doctor to pull useful conclusions on the definition of the condition and the appropriate treatment. Diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, various vascular retinal disorders (central / sectoral venous occlusion) can be diagnosed by the technique of angiography.

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What exactly is the ICG Indocyanine Angiography (indocyanine green)?

For a detailed and thorough presentation of the vessels in the choroids, the specific examination of Indocyanine angiography (ICG) is required. The diagnostic technique of the angiography with indocyanine is the same as that of fluorescein angiography, the only difference being the type of dye is injected intravenously in the ocular vessels (indocyanine green).

The advantage of ICG angiography is that the fluorescence is not particularly inhibited from bleeding, pigments and retinal edema (the fluorescence of indocyanine is located near the infrared range thereby penetrating various eye pigments). It can be particularly useful for the study of intrabulbar tumours.

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What is the procedure of the ICG Indocyanine Angiography?

• initially, instillation of eye drops for eye mydriasis (pupil dilation) is performed
• the dye (indocyanine green) is injected intravenously with the help of a needle
• the dye is transferred to the vessels of the retina and the choroid
• with the help of special equipment, a series of special shots is taken

Note that the whole process is completely painless.

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Which are the symptoms after angiography examinations?

• you will feel a burning sensation locally in the event of a leakage of the dye from the vein of your hand
• You will have blurred vision for about 3-4 hours after the examination because of the mydriatic eye drops
• if you inject fluorescein (fluorescein angiography) maybe your skin will show a yellow tint
• photosensitivity due to mydriasis
• your urine may have a yellow tint for 24 hours (if you’ve injected fluorescein)

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