Oral fluorescein angiography

Who is the leaflet for? What is its aim?

This leaflet is designed to provide parents and carers with information about your child’s test.

What is oral fluorescein angiography?

Oral fluorescein angiography is a test in which a series of photographs are taken of the back of the eye, following your child having a drink containing juice mixed with a small amount of orange-yellow dye.

Why does my child need fluorescein angiography?

This test is used to help diagnose (and sometimes monitor) certain eye conditions. The dye helps to show the circulation to the back of the eye (retina) and around the optic nerve.

Are there any risks or complications from the test?

Drinking the dye can sometimes make your child feel a little nauseous, though this usually passes quickly

The orange-yellow dye can give your child’s skin a yellow colour and may turn their urine bright yellow for 12-48 hours. Both of these are to be expected and are only temporary and harmless.

Mild reactions may include itching or a slight rash.

Extremely rarely, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur.

We will monitor the child in the hospital for at least half an hour following the procedure for signs of any side effects including anaphylaxis.

What will happen on the day?

Your child can eat and drink and take regular medications as normal prior to the test.

You will first attend Clinic 3 and be asked to read and sign the consent form for the procedure. Your child will be given some eye drops which dilate the pupil. These take about 20-30 minutes to work. The drops will blur your child’s vision for about 4-6 hours following the test.

Your child will have their observations (such as blood pressure and heart rate) taken and will be weighed to ensure the right amount of orange-yellow dye is added to the juice. You will then come downstairs to Clinic 14 where your child will be seated at a special camera to have some images taken. Your child will be asked to take the drink (usually apple juice, although you can bring an alternative juice after discussion with us) mixed with the orange-yellow dye through a straw. A further set of images will be taken after this – usually every 15 minutes for up to an hour. The technician will explain to your child that the lights will be bright and it is best if they stay as still as possible.

Your child’s results will be recorded and you will be sent a future follow-up appointment in the post, at which the results can be discussed.

Please allow approximately two hours in total for the visit.

Contacts / Further information

Should you require any further advice or information, please do not hesitate to contact the Children’s Eye Service.

Paediatric ophthalmology nurses:
01223 596414 (Monday to Friday, 0800-1700, 24 hour answerphone)

Consultant paediatric ophthalmologist secretary:
01233 216700

Department of Ophthalmology,
Clinic 3, Box 41,
Addenbrooke’s Hospital,
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
Hills Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 0QQ