Fluorescein Angiography

Fluorescein Angiography

Please ask for help if you are not happy with written English.  Please ask the eye department nurse if there is something you do not understand, or if you have more questions. 

What is Fluorescein Angiography?
This is a test in which we take pictures of the blood vessels at the back of the eye (the ‘fundus’) before and after we inject some orange fluorescein dye into a vein in your arm.  The results can tell us more about what is happening at the back of your eye.  Sometimes they show that a treatment is needed. 

What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring an up-to-date list of your medications, and bring any medication that you may require during your visit, such as inhalers for asthma, or a GTN spray for angina.  After the test, your pupils will be large and any sunshine may seem very bright, so you may wish to bring sunglasses. 

YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE YOURSELF HOME, so please arrange for someone else to help you get home.  Please allow up to 2 hours for the test.

What happens on the day of the test?
Before you come to the eye department, please take your meals and drinks as usual, and take any medications as usual.  However, do not use eye ointment on the day of the test until after the test has finished. 

PLEASE TELL US IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR IF YOU HAVE ANY SERIOUS ILLNESS OR ALLERGIES.

We will put drops into both eyes to make your pupils big.  We will take photos of the back of your eyes with a flash camera.  We will inject some dye into a vein in your arm and take more photos as the dye flows through the blood vessels at the back of your eyes.  We will give you the results at a later date.

Are there any side effects?
When the dye is injected, many patients get a “hot flush” sensation or feel nausea, but this usually lasts less than a minute.  The flashes from the camera may dazzle your vision for one or two minutes.  Rarely, allergic reactions may occur, for example, a skin rash (which can be treated with antihistamine tablets).  Serious side-effects are very rare, but for safety, we will ask you to remain in the eye department for about 15 minutes after the test.

The eye drops that are used to enlarge your pupils may blur your vision (mainly for close things) for 3 to 4 hours.  The dye may colour your skin slightly yellow, and your urine may be bright yellow for 1 or 2 days. It is very unlikely that you will experience any other problems after leaving the department, but in case of emergency, contact your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency Department or, for non-emergency problems, contact your GP.

Are there any alternative tests?
We can also check the blood vessels at the back of your eyes with the OCTA test (Ocular Coherence Tomography Angiography).  This does not require an injection of dye.  The OCTA test may be all that is needed, but sometimes extra information is needed, so that we recommend a Fluorescein Angiogram.  Occasionally, we recommend a test with an injection of a different dye called ICG (Indocyanine Green).  There is a different information leaflet about the ICG test. 

Ophthalmology Department Telephone Numbers:
Worcestershire Royal Hospital   01905 733569
Kidderminster Treatment Centre   01562 512382
Princess of Wales Community Hospital (POWCH)  01527 488198

Accident and Emergency Department Telephone Numbers:
Alexandra Hospital, Redditch   01527 512116
Worcestershire Royal Hospital   01905 760743

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything, please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to answer your questions and reassure you. 

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf, if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your call within one working day. If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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