|
|
+ Larger Font / - Smaller Font Your physician may order diagnostic tests to further evaluate the retina and others conditions that may impact the retina. Fluorescein Angiography (FA) Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) Ultrasonography Fluorescein Angiography (FA)  Fluorescein Angiography is a test using a special camera to look at the blood vessels in the retina. The word Fluorescein is actually the type of dye used to allow the blood vessels to show up under special filters in the camera. Angiography means to study the blood vessels. The test takes about 15 minutes to complete. The pupils should be fully dilated in order to achieve the best results. As you can see in the pictures, the head is resting on a special harness for comfort. First, the technician will position the camera very close to the eye to take pictures of the retina. Then, the technician will inject Fluorescein dye into the vessels of the arm. It only takes a few seconds for the dye to travel through the blood vessels and into the retina. Again, the technician will position the camara close to the eye while taking a series of photos using a special filter that allows the dye to become visible. This will allow the physician to observe how the blood circulates in the retina.  Common complaints: Flash of the camara while taking photos is bright Some patients have slight nausea immediately after the fluorescein is injected but it soon subsides. On a rare occasion, people have an an allergic response to the dye. The physician will review the photos and talk with you about the result.
Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a diagnostic test using a special camera that takes a series of images of the retina layers (located in the back of the eye). The camera is able to produce an image with many different colors to represent the different layers within the retina. 
The test generally takes about 10 minutes. Although the pupils are not required to be dilated, the images are significantly better when they are. As the picture shows, the chin rests on a harness while the technician positions the camera close to the eye. After the series of pictures are taken, the physician will review the photos and talk with you about the result. This noninvasive diagnostic test is well tolerated by most people.  An OCT image of the retina layers. Ophthalmic Ultrasonography Ophthalmic Ultrasonography is a diagnostic test using sound waves to outline the specific structures of the eye and other elements that may be within the eye; i.e., foreign bodies, tumors, etc. There are 2 different types of ultrasonographies: A Scan and B Scan. Our clinic has both to offer. The A-Scan ultrasonography uses straight lines to graph out the structures of the eye while the B-Scan ultrasonography uses sound waves to form an image. The physician will determine the appropriate scan needed.  These 2 tests are noninvasive (no needles) and are well tolerated by most people. A special gel substance is placed on a wand (connected to the ultrasound machine) to allow the sound waves to transmit to a screen and form an image. The tip of a wand makes very tiny, rapid movements and will be placed over the eye being evaluated. An image will then show up on the screen. The wand will be moved around to achieve the best image. West Texas Retina Consultants Sunil S. Patel, M.D., Ph.D. S. Young Lee, M.D. 5441 Health Center Dr. Abilene, Texas 79606 800-810-7411 325-673-9806 info@westtexasretina.com |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Copyright 2005.West Texas Retina Consultants . All rights reserved ::: Productions by Sky Web Works ::: |
|