Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2006;220:190-193 (DOI: 10.1159/000091764)

  Key Words

• Chromovitrectomy
• Patent blue
• Vital dyes

  Abstract

Purpose: To determine a novel vital dye (patent blue; Blueron^®) for vitreoretinal surgery in a prospective consecutive case series. Methods: Five patients with either idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM; n = 2), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 2), or a macular hole (n = 1) underwent a three-port pars plana vitrectomy. Patent blue assisted staining of the retinal surface followed by a consecutive peeling of the ERM (n = 4) or of the internal limiting membrane (ILM; n = 1) was performed. The main outcome measures were quality of intraoperative visualization of preretinal structures and postoperative visual acuity. Results: The dye induced a moderate staining (++) of the ERM and a mild staining (+) of the ILM. Complete ERM and ILM removal was successfully achieved in all cases. A mean visual improvement of three Snellen lines was observed 6 months postoperatively. No visual field defects or visible retinal pigment epithelial changes were present 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Patent blue, a novel dye for intraocular applications, may be added as an alternative dye in chromovitrectomy.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Stefan Mennel, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Philipps University Marburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 4
DE-35037 Marburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 6421 286 2660, Fax +49 6421 286 5678, E-Mail stefan.mennel@lycos.com

  Article Information

This work was presented in part at the EURETINA, Barcelona 2005.

Received: May 19, 2005
Accepted after revision: November 11, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 16