1. Retinal Fluorescein Angiography Kathleen Digre MD Moran Eye Center University of Utah From Practical Viewing of the optic Disc by Digre and Corbett

2. First introduced in 1960, sodium fluorescein, a dye, is administered through an angiocatheter (3-5cc) by a nurse or technician.

3. The dye reaches the central retinal artery after passing through the heart and lungs in about 8-14 seconds. There really are two vasculatures that are viewed almost simultaneously-- the retinal vasculature (central retinal artery as a branch off the ophthalmic artery) and the choroidal vasculature (from the posterior ciliary artery circulation). The first thing to "light up" is the choroid and optic disc. The retinal arterioles then illuminate using a red free light, and the capillary bed and veins will be visible at about 12-18 seconds. We speak of the arterial phase (that is the filling of the central retinal artery), the capillary phase (the filling of the small vessels including the choroid). The early venous phase shows laminated flow first, and finally the venous phase (the filling of the veins).