Vitreous surgery with trypan blue staining of membranes in PVR retinal detachment surgery

BACKGROUND: In our clinic we used trypan blue staining routinely for removal of internal limiting membranes (ILM) and epiretinal membranes (ERM) during vitreoretinal surgery for PVR retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 27 eyes of 27 patients with severe PVR retinal detachment with vitreoretinal surgery. After complete vitrectomy and removal of epiretinal membranes we injected 0.15 % trypan blue solution and proceeded with further removal of the visualized remaining epiretinal membranes and ILM. We performed relaxing retinotomies in 14 eyes. Follow-up lasted six months. RESULTS: After the first surgery the retina was reattached in 24 of 27 eyes and after the second surgery in all eyes. The final visual acuity was: hand movements in 3 eyes, 1/50 or better in 24 eyes (eight of them had a visual acuity of 0.1 - 0.5). No case of macular pucker was observed during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Trypan blue staining during vitreoretinal surgery in PVR retinal detachment therapy allows complete removal of ILM, ERM, and peripheral vitreous. It upgrades the quality of the surgery.