Trypan blue assisted phacoemulsification in corneal opacities.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of trypan blue for enhancing visualisation during phacoemulsification and foldable lens implantation in cases of cataract with corneal opacities.


METHODS
11 eyes of 11 patients with nebulomacular corneal opacities involving the visual axis with partially and visually debilitating cataract underwent trypan blue assisted phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation. The patients were followed at the first day, first week, first month, and third month postoperatively. Completion of capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification with foldable lens implantation, and postoperative best corrected visual acuity were measured.


RESULTS
The dye improved visualisation of the anterior capsule and a complete capsulorhexis could be performed successfully in all eyes. In all but one eye phacoemulsification was accomplished successfully. In one eye with Fuchs' dystrophy penetrating keratoplasty was performed later. Visual acuity was < or = 6/60 preoperatively in all eyes and improved to > or = 6/24 in eight eyes postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Trypan blue assisted phacoemulsification may be performed in selected cases of corneal haze/opacification with cataract. It provides acceptable visual outcome in cases awaiting penetrating keratoplasty or in cases where it is not feasible or promising.
Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
P
P
Bhartiya
N
N
Sharma
M
M
Ray
R
R
Sinha
R B
RB
Vajpayee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D014343:Trypan Blue
D004396:Coloring Agents; D014343:Trypan Blue