Vital dyes in macular hole surgery

Currently, surgical techniques, such as internal limiting membrane peeling, are used widely for macular holes, macular puckers, epiretinal membranes, diabetic macular edema, retinal detachment, retinal vein occlusions, vitreomacular traction, optic pit maculopathy, and Terson syndrome. This study aimed to highlight any differences regarding visual acuity and ocular tomography coherence changes after staining the internal limiting membrane with dilutions of Brilliant Blue G vs. lutein/zeaxanthin-based dyes. This study involved 30 eyes of 30 patients who had undergone posterior pole vitrectomy for idiopathic stage 4 macular hole. The study lot was divided in two subgroups, 15 eyes colored with Brilliant Blue and the other 15 eyes colored with lutein and zeaxanthin dyes. The association between visual prognosis, ocular tomography coherence changes and intraocular pressure was analyzed. The surgical treatment with required endoillumination levels and a 2-min period of dye using the Alcon Constellation Vision System had no negative impact on cell viability and improved visual acuity by 30%. Staining makes it easier to remove, to be quick and precise while performing macular surgeries. In has been observed that lutein and zeaxanthin dyes offer an intraoperative protective screen that protects photoreceptors more than Brilliant Blue while performing pars plana vitrectomy. Both study groups had good results in time. Surgical visualization is an evolving technology.