Trypan blue-assisted peeling of the internal limiting membrane during macular hole surgery.

Abstract

To evaluate the outcome of surgeries for macular holes using trypan blue to facilitate delamination of the internal limiting membrane. A retrospective series of 18 patients. All patients underwent a three-port pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane delamination using trypan blue 0.06% to assist visualization. The main outcome measures were postoperative visual acuity and clinically evident retinal pigment epithelial changes. The median preoperative visual acuity was 20/200, and the median postoperative visual acuity was 20/70. All but one macular hole were closed after surgery (94%). At the last recorded follow-up, 10 patients (56%) had improved visual acuity of at least two chart lines. No adverse reaction related to trypan blue was observed up to 1 year postsurgery. Trypan blue staining of internal limiting membrane may accomplish more complete dissections of the internal limiting membrane and better surgical and visual outcomes.