We read with interest the article by Schumann et al,1 who have reported the ultrastructural analyses of internal limiting membrane (ILM) specimens after staining with new dye Brilliant Blue G (BBG). In their study, morphological analyses failed to reveal any adverse effects possibly related to BBG. However, they stated that ultrastructural analyses alone may not be sufficient to allow definite conclusions on the safety of a vital dye used for macular surgery. Here we report the effects of accidental subretinal migration of BBG for ILM identification during vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM).

A 56-year-old man had decreased visual acuity and metamorphopsia. He had an idiopathic ERM, and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart was 1.0 logMAR (Snellen equivalent 6/60). Pars plana vitrectomy and ERM peeling …