title: Lutein: a new dye for chromovitrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility, advantages, and safety of a novel lutein-based dye for improving identification and removal of the vitreous, internal limiting membrane, and epiretinal membrane during chromovitrectomy in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 12 eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy using the dye in patients with macular hole, epiretinal membrane, or proliferative diabetic retinopathy/tractional diabetic macular edema. One surgeon performed standard chromovitrectomy and completed a postoperative questionnaire to compare the staining with that of the available dyes. The peeled membranes were evaluated histologically. Follow-up examinations were performed on postoperative Days 1, 7, 30, 90 and 180; best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, autofluorescence, and visual fields were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The green dye was deposited on the posterior pole because of its higher density than balanced saline solution; vigorous dye flushing into the vitreous cavity was unnecessary. The dye stained the posterior hyaloid/vitreous base by deposition onto the vitreous; brilliant blue stained the internal limiting membrane. The epiretinal membrane was poorly stained. The best-corrected visual acuity improved in all eyes without clinical toxicity or toxicity on images/visual fields. Histology showed effective removal of the internal limiting membrane and epiretinal membrane in all eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new dye improved intraoperative identification of the internal limiting membrane and the posterior hyaloid/vitreous base during chromovitrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Bruno A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Furlani
authors.forename: Acácio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Souza-Lima
authors.forename: Diogo S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Rodrigo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C006796:brilliant blue; D014975:Lutein