FLUORESCENT VESICLE ANGIOGRAPHY WITH SODIUM FLUORESCEIN AND INDOCYANINE GREEN

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the feasibility of mer ging free-dye angiography and the fluorescent vesicle technique ro ach ieve the best characteristics of both. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluoresc ent vesicles encapsulated with either indocyanine green or carboxyfluo rescein were mixed with free indocyanine green or free sodium fluoresc ein, respectively, and imaged with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope in both an in vitro model and primate and rabbit models. RESULTS: In the in vitro model of the sodium fluorescein combination, optimal viewing of vesicle-encapsulated dye and free dye was at a ratio of 150:1; for indocyanine green, the ratio was 50:1. In vivo, high-quality fluoresce nt vesicle angiograms were obtained that demonstrated leakage of free dye from choroidal laser spots. CONCLUSIONS: Free dye and fluorescent vesicles can be combined to obtain an angiogram with all of the advant ages of a traditional angiogram, while allowing the operator to assess the changes in retinal or choroidal circulation directly.