The abnormal
blood vessels associated with macular degeneration are traditionally
identified using fluorescein angiography.
The dye is injected into the blood and pictures are taken with
a filter to see the
fluorescence filling the blood vessles.
Abnormal blood vessels glow and leak.
Sometimes the leakage is poorly localized or blocked by blood
or pigment and the source of the abnormal blood vessels cannot be
found. ICG angiography
was developed to help find the source of blood vessels in such cases.
The ICG dye emits infrared light which can be seen though hemorrhage
and pigment. In addition,
it is a larger molecule that pools in the blood vessels beneath the
retina, facilitating visualization of the source of the abnormal blood
vessels. When ICG angiography
shows a "hot spot" away from the center of vision (fovea),
then laser treatment may be effective despite the poorly defined membrane
on fluorescein angiography.
Unfortunately, hot spots are uncommon. |
Laser
Treatments
Fluorescein
Angiography
ICG
Angiography
Photodynamic
Therapy (PDT)
Pharmacologic
Therapies
Macular
Translocation Surgery
Submacular
Surgery
Retinal
Transplantation
Radiation
Therapy
Genetics
Nutrition
Other
Treatments
|
