Eye Angiogram: How To Prepare

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How To Prepare

If you wear contact lenses, remove them before the test. After the test, do not put soft contact lenses back in your eyes for at least 4 hours because the contacts may become stained from the dye used for the test.

Before the test, tell your health professional if you:

• Have ever had an allergic reaction to X-ray contrast materials, iodine (which is present in indocyanine green dye), fluorescein, or dilating eyedrops.
• Have a history of glaucoma, including closed-angle glaucoma. You may need to delay doses of certain eyedrops until after the test. The health professional also may not use dilating eyedrops or may use different eyedrops before the test.
• Are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
• Are or might be pregnant or are breast-feeding. Most doctors discourage the use of this test during pregnancy, especially during the first 3 months, and while a woman is breast-feeding.

Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

After the test:

• Your vision may be blurred for up to 12 hours.
• You should not drive until the effects of the dilating eyedrops wear off. Arrange for someone to drive you home.
• You should wear sunglasses until your pupils return to normal size. Bright light and sunshine may hurt your eyes.

Last updated:	July 06, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer