CONFOCAL INDOCYANINE-GREEN ANGIOGRAPHY US ING THE HEIDELBERG RETINA ANGIOGRAPH

Purpose Indocyanine-green angiography (ICG) has been shown to be a val uable adjunctive technique to fluorescein angiography including furthe r delineation of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular d egeneration. We report on initial clinical experiences with a newly de veloped infrared confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Materials and Methods Fundus and fluorescein angiography photographs were obtained in 20 patients with various fundus changes. Confocal laser scanning IC G-angiography using the Heidelberg Retina Angiograph (Heidelberg Engin eering GmbH, Germany) was performed after injection of 25 mg ICG. The confocal principle ensures that only light reflected from a defined fo cal plane is detected by the integrated photomultiplier. Excitation wa velength was 795 nm, and emmission was recorded above 810 nm. About 60 % of the emission is detected. An additional built-in diode laser (830 nm) allowed fundus visualization prior to dye injection. Results ICG angiography using the scanning laser angiograph showed typical finding s as previously reported with other systems. The images were character ized by high contrast. In addition, the retinal vessels were readily v isualized in the late phase. By means of the confocal mode different l ayers of the circulation could be visualized. Conclusions The findings indicate that the confocal scanning angiograph is a useful alternativ e tool for ICG angiography and that it offers similar information obta ined by other imaging systems. Advantages compared with previous techn iques may include high image contrast, visualization of retinal vessel s in the late phase, lower amount of light exposure, direct digital im age acquisition and easy practical operation.