Comparative evaluation of oral fluorescein angiography using the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope and digital fundus camera with intravenous fluorescein angiography using the digital fundus camera

To study the efficacy of oral fluorescein angiography (FA) with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (CSLO). Ten patients each of choroidal neovascular membrane, central serous retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy and five normal subjects were evaluated with group 1 - intravenous FA using digital fundus camera (DFC); group 2 - oral FA using DFC; and group 3 - oral FA using CSLO. Third-order branch vessels were identified in 85.7% eyes in group 3 versus 51.4% in group 2 (P = 0.004), image quality was comparable to intravenous FA in 77.1% in group 3 versus 48.5% in group 2 (P = 0.02) and margin delineation was better in 80% eyes in group 3 versus 35% in group 2 (P = 0.01). The foveal avascular zone was clear and intact in 54.2% eyes in group 3 versus 37.1% in group 2 (P = 0.14) and 57.1% in group 1 (P = 0.8). Oral FA using CSLO is superior to oral FA using DFC and comparable to intravenous FA using DFC in terms of image quality, branch retinal vessel identification and margin delineation.