Fluorescein sodium injection

Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.

Generic name
fluorescein sodium
Drug class
Diagnostic dye
Form
Single-dose vial; US labelled strengths include 10% and 25%
Route
Intravenous injection
Legal status
US prescription medicine

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · Canada

Australia: · Full directory

What fluorescein sodium is and how it works

Fluorescein sodium injection is a diagnostic dye used during diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of the retinal and iris vasculature. (1) (2)

It is administered intravenously by a clinician as part of a diagnostic procedure. It does not treat an eye disease or improve eyesight. This information does not cover topical ophthalmic strips, contact-lens products, or non-injection formulations.

Mechanism of action: how fluorescein sodium works

Fluorescein sodium injection is a diagnostic dye used for diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature. Further pharmacology detail is not provided in the supplied research notes. (1)

What fluorescein sodium is used for

Diagnostic angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature

Fluorescein sodium injection is labelled for diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature. (1)

Before taking fluorescein sodium

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not receive fluorescein sodium injection if there is hypersensitivity to a component of the product. (US fluorescein sodium injection) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any previous hypersensitivity or reaction to a component of the product.
  • If you are breastfeeding, because the label advises caution in nursing women.
  • Any health information or prior reaction relevant to safe diagnostic administration, as requested by the administering clinical team.
(1)

How to take fluorescein sodium

  • Fluorescein sodium injection is administered intravenously by a clinician for a diagnostic procedure.
  • The diagnostic team determines the product, dose, preparation, administration, and clinical readiness required for the procedure.
  • This medicine is not for self-injection, and this page does not provide a self-use regimen, dose calculator, preparation, mixing, or dilution instructions.
  • Topical fluorescein ophthalmic strips are a different product and are not interchangeable with fluorescein sodium injection.
(1) (2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2)

Missed dose

This is clinician-administered diagnostic medicine. If a diagnostic appointment or procedure is delayed or cannot be completed, contact the administering clinic for instructions.

Overdose

Dose and administration are clinician-managed. If an administration error or unexpected reaction is suspected, the administering clinical team should assess the situation urgently; seek emergency services for a possible serious reaction. (1)

Side effects

Fluorescein sodium injection can cause temporary colour changes and gastrointestinal effects. The label also discusses hypersensitivity, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, and thrombophlebitis reactions, including reactions that may require urgent clinical assessment.

Temporary yellow skin and bright-yellow urine discoloration

What to notice: The skin may temporarily appear yellow and urine may become bright yellow after injection.

What to do: Tell the administering clinical team if you have concerns or if changes are accompanied by other symptoms. (1)

Nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal distress

What to notice: Nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal distress can occur after injection.

What to do: Tell the administering clinical team promptly, especially if symptoms are severe or persistent. (1)

Possible local injection-site injury

What to notice: Pain or other concerning symptoms around the injection area, particularly if the medicine may have entered surrounding tissue rather than the vein.

What to do: Alert the administering clinical team immediately. Severe local tissue damage may occur with extravasation. (1)

Possible serious reaction after administration

What to notice: Any unexpected cardiopulmonary, neurologic, hypersensitivity, or thrombophlebitis-related symptoms after the injection.

What to do: Notify the administering clinical team promptly for assessment. (1)

Serious warnings

Respiratory reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Any respiratory reaction after fluorescein sodium injection.

Action: Alert the administering clinical team immediately. Respiratory reactions may require intervention; seek emergency services if symptoms occur after leaving the clinical setting. (1)

Severe local tissue damage with extravasation — urgent

Symptoms: Concerning symptoms at or around the intravenous injection site.

Action: Alert the administering clinical team immediately, because severe local tissue damage may occur if the injection enters surrounding tissue. (1)

Hypersensitivity or other possible serious reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Any suspected hypersensitivity, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, or thrombophlebitis-related reaction after administration.

Action: Tell the administering clinical team immediately or seek emergency services if a serious reaction is suspected outside the clinical setting. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Medicine and treatment interactionsThe supplied research notes do not provide interaction information for fluorescein sodium injection.Provide the administering clinical team with a complete medicine and treatment list before the diagnostic procedure. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Breastfeeding

The label advises caution in nursing women. Discuss breastfeeding with the administering clinician; the supplied notes do not provide an individual breastfeeding plan. (1)

Pregnancy

The supplied research notes do not provide a pregnancy-specific plan. Discuss the diagnostic procedure and any pregnancy considerations with the administering clinician. (1)

Children, kidney impairment, or liver impairment

The label includes adult and paediatric dosing, but this page does not publish dosing. The supplied notes do not provide a personalised paediatric, renal, or hepatic plan; the administering clinician should determine whether and how the diagnostic procedure is appropriate. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Confirm that fluorescein sodium injection is being used for the labelled diagnostic purpose.
  • Check for hypersensitivity to a component of the product.
  • Assess relevant clinical information, including breastfeeding status, as appropriate for the diagnostic procedure.
  • Ensure appropriate clinical readiness for diagnostic administration and possible reactions.

During treatment

  • Monitor for respiratory reactions, hypersensitivity, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, thrombophlebitis, gastrointestinal, and local injection-site reactions.
  • Monitor the intravenous administration site for possible extravasation because severe local tissue damage may occur.
  • Manage any reaction through the administering clinical team and applicable emergency procedures.
(1)

Storage

Storage, handling, disposal, and product substitution are product-specific and clinician-managed. The supplied notes do not support publishing injection handling or storage directions.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current US product label and local diagnostic-procedure protocols for product selection, dosing, preparation, administration, monitoring, and emergency readiness.

United States

Indication: Diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature

Dose summary: The US label provides adult and paediatric dosing, but no dose, preparation, mixing, dilution, or administration regimen is displayed in this patient-facing draft. Determine these from the current product label and diagnostic protocol.

Renal context: Renal and hepatic dosing information is not provided in the supplied research notes. Do not infer an adjustment from this page. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Hepatic impairment guidance is not provided in the supplied research notes.

Overdose note

Administration and any suspected medication error require assessment by the administering clinical team. The supplied research notes do not provide a specific overdose-management protocol. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is fluorescein sodium injection a treatment for an eye disease?

No. It is a diagnostic dye used during diagnostic angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature; it does not treat eye disease or improve eyesight. (1)

Can I inject fluorescein sodium injection myself?

No. The covered product is administered intravenously by a clinician for a diagnostic procedure. This page does not provide self-injection, preparation, mixing, or dosing instructions. (1)

Are fluorescein ophthalmic strips the same as fluorescein sodium injection?

No. Topical fluorescein ophthalmic strips are a different product and must not be considered interchangeable with intravenous fluorescein sodium injection. (1) (2)

What is the mechanism of action of fluorescein sodium?

Fluorescein sodium injection is a diagnostic dye used for diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of retinal and iris vasculature. Further pharmacology detail is not provided in the supplied research notes. (1)

What is the generic name of Fluorescein sodium injection?

The generic name is fluorescein sodium. (1) (2)

What class of drug is fluorescein sodium?

Fluorescein sodium injection is classed as: Diagnostic dye. (1) (2)

References

  1. FLUORESCEIN injection — prescribing informationDailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · dated 2026-06-02 · accessed 2026-06-15 · source 1
  2. Fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strip — consumer informationDailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · dated 2025-06-01 · accessed 2026-06-15 · source 2
  3. FLUORESCITE (FLUORESCEIN SODIUM) INJECTION, SOLUTION [ALCON, INC.] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
  4. fluorescein — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 25138)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient fluorescein sodium names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • GloStrips.6 mg, 1 mg · nomax inc.
  • Dry Eye Test.12 mg · nomax inc.
  • AK-FLUOR100 mg/mL · long grove pharmaceuticals, llc
  • C20H10Na2O5 Fluorescein Sodium Ophthalmic Strips1 mg/mg · vistamerica usa
  • FLUORESCITE100 mg/mL · alcon, inc.

Canada

  • FLUORETS (FLUORESCEIN OPHTHALMIC STRIPS)
  • MINIMS FLUORESCEIN SODIUM
  • DIOFLUOR STRIPS
  • FLUORESCITE
  • ODAN-FLUORETS
View brands in additional countries.

This page provides general medicine information about US prescription fluorescein sodium injection for clinician-administered intravenous diagnostic angiography. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, self-injection guide, dosing guide, procedure protocol, emergency plan, or substitute for the administering clinician and current product label.

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