title: Patent blue: a novel vital dye in vitreoretinal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine a novel vital dye (patent blue; Blueron) for vitreoretinal surgery in a prospective consecutive case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with either idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM; n = 2), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 2), or a macular hole (n = 1) underwent a three-port pars plana vitrectomy. Patent blue assisted staining of the retinal surface followed by a consecutive peeling of the ERM (n = 4) or of the internal limiting membrane (ILM; n = 1) was performed. The main outcome measures were quality of intraoperative visualization of preretinal structures and postoperative visual acuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dye induced a moderate staining (++) of the ERM and a mild staining (+) of the ILM. Complete ERM and ILM removal was successfully achieved in all cases. A mean visual improvement of three Snellen lines was observed 6 months postoperatively. No visual field defects or visible retinal pigment epithelial changes were present 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patent blue, a novel dye for intraocular applications, may be added as an alternative dye in chromovitrectomy.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. stefan.mennel@lycos.com
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Mennel
authors: Carsten H
authors: CH
authors: Meyer
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Tietjen
authors: Eduardo B
authors: EB
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Jörg C
authors: JC
authors: Schmidt