VIDEO FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE ANTERIOR EYE SEGMENT IN SEVERE EYE BURNS

Purpose: Severe eye burns often result in extensive necrosis of the co njunctiva and episcleral tissue. Video fluorescein angiography was per formed to reveal the perfusion of the anterior eye segment after sever e eye burns. Methods: A scanning laser ophthalmoscope was used for ant erior segment fluorescein angiography in 12 patients (14 eyes) with se vere burns grade III-IV and in 7 healthy volunteers. Results: Necrotic tissues occurred as non perfused areas and remained dark throughout t he whole angiogram. In general, the borders from healthy to necrotic c onjunctival tissue were sharply demarcated. Thus, the extent of sclera l and limbal ischemia could be determined exactly. Injured vessels sho wed hyperfluorescence with late leakage. Damage of the subconjunctival tissue appeared as a deep weak fluorescence in the early angiography and exhibited patchy leakage in the late angiogram. Conclusions: Anter ior segment angiography provides a basis for deciding the extent of su rgical debridement of necrotic tissue in the acute phase of the burn. The determination of the extent of limbal and scleral ischemia may giv e useful information for early plastic-reconstructive procedures.