Ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography in diabetic retinopathy: a narrative review

Abstract

Fluorescein angiography (FA) is a useful examination in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy (DR). Traditional angiograms explore 30°–50° of the retina at once; however, visualization of peripheral retina is fundamental in order to assess nonperfused areas, vascular leakage, microvascular abnormalities, and neovascularizations. In order to expand the field of view, wide-field and ultra-wide-field imaging has been developed allowing to image up to 200° of retinal surface in one single shot. The aim of this narrative review was to provide an overview of the role of the most recent technique of ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography in DR.

Keywords:

• ischemic index
• targeted retinal photocoagulation
• diabetic macular edema
• diabetic macular ischemia
• peripheral vessel leakage
• capillary nonperfusion

Disclosure

Giuseppe Querques has the following disclosures: Allergan (financial support), Alimera (financial support), Bayer (financial support), Alcon (consultant), Allergan (consultant), Alimera (consultant), Bausch and Lomb (consultant), Novartis (consultant), Bayer (consultant), Ophthotech (consultant). Francesco Bandello has the following disclosures: Allergan (financial support), Alimera (financial support), Bayer (financial support), Farmila-Thea (financial support), Schering Pharma (financial support), Sanofi-Aventis (financial support), Novagali (financial support), Pharma (financial support), Hoffmann-LA Roche (financial support), Genetech (financial support), Novartis (financial support). The other authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.