Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye: A Focus on Imaging Protocols and Interpretation
Published on: November 11, 2025
Angiographic Evaluation of Inflammation in Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis
Bernhard Steger1, Vito Romano2, Stephen B Kaye2
1a Department of Ophthalmology , Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
Purpose:
Grading of disease activity in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) is limited by intra- and inter-observer variability. The aim of this study was to identify angiographic parameters to help evaluate inflammation and disease activity.
Methods:
In 12 patients (4 with active, 2 with inactive AKC, and 6 controls), disease activity were assessed using a validated biomicroscopic grading scale. Imaging of upper tarsal conjunctiva was undertaken using color photography, fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).
Results:
Extravascular ICG leakage only occurred in patients with active disease (mean 84.6 ± 28.8 s) except in one patient with inactive disease but only after 6 min. Transepithelial leakage of fluorescein occurred in all patients with active AKC (mean 63.5 ± 17.8 s) but not in patients with inactive disease or controls.
Conclusions:
Conjunctival transepithelial leakage of fluorescein and extravascular interstitial accumulation of ICG may be useful markers of disease activity patients in AKC.
