Oral fluorescein angiography with scanning laser ophthalmoscope

Objective: To study the efficacy of oral fluorescein angiography compared to intravenous (IV) fluorescein angiography in several retinal diseases.Patients and methods: We performed oral fluorescein angiography with a confocal SLO (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph-HRA) in fourteen psychologically challenged individuals and children, all of whom explicitly refused venipuncture. Patient's diagnosis included diabetes, central serous choroidopathy, toxoplasmosis and choroidal neovascularization. A dose of30 mg/kg body weight of fluorescein was given. Results: We obtained images of adequate quality to allowinterpretation in all cases.Conclusions: Even though the images were not nearly as good as when obtained after IV injection, we conclude that oral fluorescein angiography with SLO is an appropriate alternative in those cases where a venipuncture is contraindicated by medical or psychological reasons.