Ultra-widefield fundus fluorescein angiography in the diagnosis and management of retinal vasculitis.

Abstract

PurposeTo quantify the additional information provided by ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography, compared with 7-field standard imaging, in patients with retinal vasculitis (RV).Patients and methodsRetrospective case series of 106 patients.ResultsRetinal vascular pathology was identified by UWF FFA, but not by standard ETDRS 7-field area, in 62 patients (58.5%) and in 79 eyes (43.4%). The pathology included active RV (47 eyes, 25.8% of eyes); retinal ischaemia, or infarction (53 eyes, 29.1%); and retinal neovascularization (7 eyes, 3.8%). A change to management was made in 36 patients (34%). Of these, 21 (20% of all patients undergoing angiography) were made after the identification of retinal vascular pathology, which was found only on UWF FFA, outside the ETDRS area.ConclusionUltra-widefield fluorescein angiography has clear advantages over standard multi-field imaging. It is currently the standard method of assessment for RV in this centre.