A new surgical approach for indocyanine green-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling.
OBJECTIVE
The efficiency of indocyanine green (ICG) dye in the removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) with a fluid needle using passive aspiration was evaluated.


METHODS
Eighteen consecutive patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema were studied. After vitrectomy and total fluid-air exchange, 0.1 mL of ICG solution 0.25% was left in the macular area for 1 minute. Then the macular ILM was peeled with a specially designed tapered fluid needle using passive aspiration.


RESULTS
In 16 of the 18 eyes, the peeling procedure could be easily performed with a tapered fluid needle using passive aspiration. In 11 eyes, partial development of spontaneous ILM detachment prior to the peeling process was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
ICG solution 0.25% appears to reduce the adhesive force of the ILM to the sensory retina, which makes the removal of the ILM much easier by passive aspiration with a fluid needle.
Avci
Remzi
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Uludag University Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
Avci
Berrin
B
Kaderli
Berkant
B
Cavusoglu
Ilkin
I
D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D014821:Vitrectomy
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green