The changing rates and indications of optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography over 5 years.

Purpose. To evaluate the relative frequency of use of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) following the introduction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) at a tertiary university ophthalmology practice. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the demand for and indications of all requests for FFA or OCT during the five years from 2007 to 2011, inclusively, at our tertiary care university hospital department of ophthalmology. Results. In January 2007, out of 194 total imaging studies requested and performed, there were 85 OCTs (43.8% of total imaging studies) and 109 FFAs (56.2%). By January 2011, out of 172 total imaging studies requested and performed, there were 127 OCT cases (73.8%) and 45 FFA cases (26.2%). FFAs for macular degeneration and diabetic maculopathy accounted for 54.3% of all imaging in 2007, but five years later had fallen to just 22%. Conclusions. A decrease in the number of FFAs requested and performed was associated an increase in number of OCTs, over the five year period. While this pattern was observed in a single relatively small tertiary care setting, this study may be the first report in the peer-reviewed medical literature of this trend. The relative safety profile and convenience of OCT as compared to FFA may be a primary factor in this shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]