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Your physician may order diagnostic tests to further evaluate the retina and others conditions
that may impact the retina.
Amsler Grid Test
Fundus Photography
Fluorescein Angiography (FA)
Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Ultrasonography
Ophthalmoscopy
Gonioscopy
Slit Lamp Examination
Fluorescein Angiography (FA)
Fluorescein Angiography is a test using a special camera to look at
the blood vessels in the retina. The word Fluorescein is actually
the type of dye used to allow the blood vessels to show up under special
filters in the camera. Angiography means to study the blood vessels.
The test takes about 15 minutes to complete. The pupils should be
fully dilated in order to achieve the best results. As you can see
in the pictures, the head is resting on a special harness for comfort.
First, the technician will position the camera very close to the eye
to take pictures of the retina. Then, the technician will inject Fluorescein
dye into the vessels of the arm. It only takes a few seconds for the
dye to travel through the blood vessels and into the retina. Again, the technician
will position the camera close to the eye while taking a series of photos using
a special filter
that allows the dye to become visible. This will allow the physician to observe how
the blood circulates in the retina.
Common complaints:
Flash of the camera while taking photos is bright.
Some patients have slight nausea immediately after the fluorescein is
injected but it soon subsides.
On a rare occasion, people have had an allergic response to the dye.
The physician will review the photos and talk with you about the result.
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| Color photograph of retina |
How Flourescein lights up blood vessels in the retina |
Optical Coherence Tomography
(OCT)
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a diagnostic test using a special camera that takes a series
of images of the retinal layers (located in the back of the eye).
The camera is able to produce an image with many different colors to represent the different layers
within the retina.
The test generally takes about 10 minutes. Although the pupils are
not required to be dilated, the images are significantly better when
they are. As the picture shows, the chin rests on a harness while
the technician positions the camera close to the eye. After the series
of pictures are taken, the physician will review the photos and talk
with you about the result.
This noninvasive diagnostic test is well tolerated by most people.
An OCT image of the retina layers.
Ophthalmic Ultrasonography
Ophthalmic Ultrasonography is a diagnostic test using sound waves
to outline the specific structures of the eye and other elements that
may be within the eye; i.e., foreign bodies, tumors, etc. There are
2 different types of ultrasonographies: A Scan and B Scan. Our clinic
has both to offer. The A-Scan ultrasonography uses straight lines
to graph out the structures of the eye while the B-Scan ultrasonography
uses sound waves to form an image. The physician will determine the
appropriate scan needed.

These 2 tests are noninvasive (no needles) and are well tolerated
by most people. A special gel substance is placed on a wand (connected
to the ultrasound machine) to allow the sound waves to transmit to
a screen and form an image. The tip of a wand makes very tiny, rapid
movements and will be placed over the eye being evaluated. An image
will then show up on the screen. The wand will be moved around to
achieve the best image.
North Texas Retina Consultants
Sunil S. Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
S. Young Lee, M.D.
925 Santa Fe, Suite 105
Weatherford, Texas 76086
817-594-0914
888-594-0914
info@northtexasretina.com
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