Fluorescein Angiography - Normal Circulatory Filling

Normal Circulatory Filling

times are approximate

• 0 seconds — injection of fluorescein
• 9.5 sec — posterior ciliary arteries
• 10 sec — choroidal flush (or "pre-arterial phase")
• 10-12 sec — retinal arterial stage
• 13 sec — capillary transition stage
• 14-15 sec — early venous stage (or "lamellar stage", "arterial-venous stage")
• 16-17 sec — venous stage
• 18-20 sec — late venous stage
• 5 minutes — late staining

Fluorescein enters the ocular circulation from the internal carotid artery via the ophthalmic artery. The ophthalmic artery supplies the choroid via the short posterior ciliary arteries and the retina via the central retinal artery, however, the route to the choroid is typically less circuitous than the route to the retina. This accounts for the short delay between the "choroidal flush" and retinal filling.