Ultrastructure of the vitreoretinal interface following the removal of the internal limiting membrane using indocyanine green.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the morphological changes of the vitreoretinal interface following the removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) using indocyanine green (ICG).


METHODS
In 10 primate eyes, a pars plana vitrectomy was performed followed by ICG-assisted peeling of the ILM. Morphological changes in the exposed inner surface of the retina were investigated by electronmicroscopy immediately, 3, 6 and 12 months after the ILM removal.


RESULTS
The excised ILM was associated with fragments of glial tissue. The Muller cell processes were damaged and removed at the corresponding region of the retina. Regenerative spindle-shaped Muller cell processes were observed focally showing a meshwork like configuration at 3 and 6 months. Flattened and stretched processes were observed at 12 months; however, there was no apparent ILM regeneration.


CONCLUSIONS
ICG assisted ILM peeling was observed to cause mild damage to the vitreoretinal interface, which did not completely recover within 12 months.
Nakamura
Takao
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
Murata
Toshinori
T
Hisatomi
Toshio
T
Enaida
Hiroshi
H
Sassa
Yukio
Y
Ueno
Akifumi
A
Sakamoto
Taiji
T
Ishibashi
Tatsuro
T
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012160:Retina / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green