title: The endothelial safety of using a gentian violet dry-ink "S" stamp for precut corneal tissue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the endothelium damage resulting from the application of "dry" gentian violet (GV) stromal markings on corneas precut for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) using a Moria "S" Stamp.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five precut corneas had the stromal graft bed marked with GV using the Moria "S" stamp and 6 precut corneas were left unmarked as controls. After applying the ink to the stamp, care was taken to allow the alcohol carrier to dry for 10 seconds before applying the dry dye to the stromal surface. Tissue was then trephinated and stained with calcein AM to assess endothelial viability. Grafts were photographed and digital pixel planometry, using an established analysis technique, was used to compare the damage between the control and experimental groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percent cell damage of corneas treated with GV "S" stamp (n = 5) was 8.6% (range 4.4-12.9), and it was 8.1% (range 3.9-15.1) in the DSAEK control set (n = 6). Median percent cell damage was 6.7% among GV-treated corneas and 7.4% among control corneas. The distributions were not significantly different between groups (Mann-Whitney U test = 15.0, two-tailed P = 1.0). Moreover, no "S" pattern of damage was seen in any study eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no significant differences in endothelial damage between the 2 groups. GV stromal markings may be applied without undue damage to the endothelium using the dry-ink technique described.
authors.affiliation: Lions VisionGift, Portland, OR, USA. chris@visiongift.org
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoeger
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holiman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davis-Boozer
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Terry
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000187:drug effects; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005125:Eye Banks; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C085925:calcein AM; D005840:Gentian Violet; D019840:2-Propanol