FUNAGES: an expert system for fundus fluorescein angiography

Abstract

FUNAGES is an expert system that deals with the interpretation of fundus fluorescein angiography. Fluorescein angiography is an extremely valuable clinical test that provides information about the circulatory system of the ocular fundus (the back of the eye) not attainable by routine examination. The different appearance of fluorescein, in place and time and the classification of the fundus diseases render angiography a dynamic, cinematographic and deductive diagnostic method. Therefore, ability to interpret fundus fluorescein angiograms allows an ophthalmologist specializing in ocular fundus diseases to follow a systematic, orderly and logical line of reasoning that leads to a proper diagnosis. FUNAGES was developed to simulate such logical reasoning, in order to train inexperienced ophthalmologists in the interpretation of angiograms. The system achieved its purpose via a graphical user interface and a thorough knowledge base.