USE OF LUTEIN AND ZEAXANTHIN ALONE OR COMBINED WITH BRILLIANT BLUE TO IDENTIFY INTRAOCULAR STRUCTURES INTRAOPERATIVELY

PURPOSE To determine whether a natural dye solution based on lutein and zeaxanthin alone or combined with Brilliant Blue stains and facilitates peeling of intraocular membranes in human eyes. METHODS In this study of 60 cadaveric eyes, open-sky vitrectomy including posterior hyaloid detachment was performed. Different lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations (0.01-20%) were tested alone or combined with different Brilliant Blue concentrations (0.0125-0.025%) in the corneal endothelium, corneal epithelium, anterior and posterior capsule, vitreous cavity through the macula including the posterior hyaloid, and internal limiting membrane. The various dye solutions were in contact with the intraocular membranes for