Ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography in diabetic retinopathy: a narrative review

Alessandro Rabiolo,1 Mariacristina Parravano,2 Lea Querques,1,2 Maria Vittoria Cicinelli,1 Adriano Carnevali,1,3 Riccardo Sacconi,1,4 Teresa Centoducati,1 Stela Vujosevic,5 Francesco Bandello,1 Giuseppe Querques1 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, 2G. B. Bietti Foundation – IRCCS, Rome, 3Department of Ophthalmology, University of “Magna Graecia,” Catanzaro, 4Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, 5Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Padova, Padova, Italy Abstract: Fluorescein angiography (FA) is a useful examination in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy (DR). Traditional angiograms explore 30°–50° of the retina at once; however, visualization of peripheral retina is fundamental in order to assess nonperfused areas, vascular leakage, microvascular abnormalities, and neovascularizations. In order to expand the field of view, wide-field and ultra-wide-field imaging has been developed allowing to image up to 200° of retinal surface in one single shot. The aim of this narrative review was to provide an overview of the role of the most recent technique of ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography in DR. Keywords: ischemic index, targeted retinal photocoagulation, diabetic macular edema, diabetic macular ischemia, peripheral vessel leakage, capillary nonperfusio