title: Digital image analysis of trypan blue and fluorescein staining of anterior lens capsules and intraocular lenses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the intensity of trypan blue and fluorescein staining over time in anterior lens capsules and various intraocular lens (IOL) materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fritz Eye Associates, Geislingen, Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Excised anterior lens capsules and IOLs were exposed to trypan blue 0.1% and fluorescein 2% solution to assess the time correlation of color saturation. A technique of color differentiation using red-green-blue analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the anterior lens capsules, trypan blue saturation was 17% after 60 seconds and 71% after 24 hours; with fluorescein, there was no visible staining after 5 minutes and 17% saturation after 24 hours. Red and green light transmission was reduced with trypan blue and high with fluorescein. Blue light transmission was reduced with fluorescein. In poly(methyl methacrylate) and silicone IOLs, there was no to minimal staining and in acrylic IOLs, there was intense uptake of both dyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implications of this surgical technique are to use a short exposure time with trypan blue and avoid acrylic IOLs in cases of questionabale dye loss to the vitreous. Fluorescein should be used as a dye only when injected subcapsularly.
authors.affiliation: Geislingen@t-online.de
authors.forename: Wilfram L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Fritz
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D019793:Fluorescein; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014343:Trypan Blue
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D014343:Trypan Blue; D019793:Fluorescein