How it appears: electron microscopic evaluation of internal limiting membrane specimens obtained during brilliant blue G assisted macular hole surgery
- University Eye Hospital Munich, Vitreal and Pathology Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
- Dr C Haritoglou, Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Mathildenstr 8, 80336 Munich, Germany; christos.haritoglou{at}med.uni-muenchen.de
The intravitreal application of the novel dye, brilliant blue G (BBG), has recently been suggested to facilitate macular hole and epiretinal membrane surgery because BBG has been shown to selectively stain the internal limiting membrane (ILM).1 Several advantages compared with other dyes such as indocyanine green or trypan blue have been reported.2 In particular, BBG did not show apoptotic death of retinal cells as it was found in laboratory investigations on indocyanine green and trypan blue.3 4 To determine if there are any pathological changes in the ILM and adherent structures or apparent damage to the retina, we analysed surgical specimens of BBG assisted ILM peeling in macular hole surgery using electron microscopy.
Nine eyes from nine patients (six women, three men) presented with full …
