Use of directly acquired digital fundus and fluorescein angiographic images in the diagnosis of retinal disease.

Direct on-line acquisition of digital fundus and fluorescein images is a useful alternative to conventional fundus photography. Immediately after acquisition, digital images may be electronically reassembled, manipulated, and displayed, avoiding the delays inherent in film development. Digital fundus images, conventional photographs, and fluorescein angiograms were obtained at the same sitting in 50 consecutive patients with retinal disease. Digital studies were displayed on a video monitor and diagnoses were made directly from the screen. The interpretations based on digital images alone were virtually identical to those made from photographs, although the resolution of digital images was not equal to that of the photographic images. Despite this disadvantage, the system proved extremely versatile, and for this reason, digital image acquisition was used to routinely document the retinal findings in the majority of the clinical patients.