Trypan blue capsular staining to “find” the leading edge of a “lost” capsulorhexis

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 134; no. 2; pp. 271 - 272
• Main Authors: de Waard, Peter W.T, Budo, Camille J, Melles, Gerrit R.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Capsulorhexis - methods; Coloring Agents; Humans; Lens Capsule, Crystalline - surgery; Medical sciences; Phacoemulsification; Prospective Studies; Staining and Labeling - methods; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Trypan Blue; Human; Visualization; Trypan blue; Staining; Capsule; Eye; Leading edge; Treatment; Surgery; Lens; Capsulorhexis; Technique; Edge
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01455-1

PURPOSE: To describe an effective surgical technique to visualize an obscured leading edge of a capsulorhexis. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional case series. METHODS: In six eyes of six patients in which the capsulorhexis was started but could no longer be seen during surgery, the anterior chamber was irrigated to remove all viscoelastic, and 0.3-ml trypan blue 0.06% was applied onto the anterior lens capsule to stain and visualize the leading edge of the capsulorhexis. RESULTS: In all patients, the leading edge of the capsulorhexis was quickly visualized by using the dye. No adverse reactions were observed up to 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSION: Trypan blue staining of the anterior lens capsule is an effective and apparently safe technique to “find” a “lost” capsulorhexis during surgery.