What is FFA?
During fundus fluorescein angiography, a harmless dye is injected into a vein in your arm. As it travels through the retinal blood vessels, a special camera captures detailed images that show areas of leakage, blockage or abnormal new vessels.
When it is used
FFA is invaluable in managing diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, age-related macular degeneration and other vascular conditions, helping to plan laser and injection treatments accurately.
What is the full form of FFA?
FFA stands for Fundus Fluorescein Angiography. 'Fundus' refers to the inside back surface of the eye (where the retina lies), 'fluorescein' is the special dye used, and 'angiography' means imaging of blood vessels. Put together, FFA is a test that photographs the dye as it flows through the blood vessels of the retina. This reveals areas of leakage, blockage or abnormal new vessels that may not be visible otherwise.
What to expect during an FFA test
First, dilating drops are placed in your eyes to widen the pupils, which usually takes a little while to work. A small amount of fluorescein dye is then injected into a vein in your arm. As the dye travels up into the retinal blood vessels, the camera takes a rapid sequence of photographs over several minutes to capture how the dye fills and flows. The photography itself is painless, though the camera flashes are bright.
Is the FFA dye safe? What to expect
Fluorescein dye is widely used and generally well tolerated. It is common and harmless for the dye to give the skin a temporary yellowish tint and to turn the urine bright yellow or orange for a day or so. Some people feel briefly warm or mildly nauseated as the dye is given. Allergic reactions are rare, but you should tell the doctor beforehand if you are pregnant, have kidney disease or have ever had a reaction to this or any contrast dye. If you have any concerns, discuss them with your doctor, who will advise what is right for you.