Video fluorescein angiography of the anterior eye segment in severe eye burns.

PURPOSE

Severe eye burns often result in extensive necrosis of the conjunctiva and episcleral tissue. Video fluorescein angiography was performed to reveal the perfusion of the anterior eye segment after severe eye burns.

METHODS

A scanning laser ophthalmoscope was used for anterior segment fluorescein angiography in 12 patients (14 eyes) with severe burns grade III-IV and in 7 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

Necrotic tissues occurred as non perfused areas and remained dark throughout the whole angiogram. In general, the borders from healthy to necrotic conjunctival tissue were sharply demarcated. Thus, the extent of scleral and limbal ischemia could be determined exactly. Injured vessels showed hyperfluorescence with late leakage. Damage of the subconjunctival tissue appeared as a deep weak fluorescence in the early angiography and exhibited patchy leakage in the late angiogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior segment angiography provides a basis for deciding the extent of surgical debridement of necrotic tissue in the acute phase of the burn. The determination of the extent of limbal and scleral ischemia may give useful information for early plastic-reconstructive procedures.