Gentian violet solution for staining the anterior capsule

Purpose: To evaluate the histopathological changes after injecting gentian violet solution into the anterior chamber of rats and to describe a techniq ue that uses gentian violet to allow a clear view of the anterior capsule d uring continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) in human eyes with white m ature cataract. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Dicle, Diyarbakir, Turk ey. Methods In this masked, experimental study (first stage), 0.05 mL of gentia n violet 0.01% or 0.001% solution or balanced salt solution (BSS(R)) (contr ol group) was injected into the anterior chamber of 30 eyes of 30 Wistar al bino rats. One, 24, and 48 hours after injection, 4 eyes in each group and 2 eyes in the control group were enucleated, and histopathological examinat ion was performed. In the second stage, these solutions were used for stain ing the anterior capsule in the 18 human eyes with white mature cataract. T he success rate of CCC and intraoperative and postoperative complications w ere evaluated. Results: Histopathological examination revealed no pathology in any group. A CCC was completed in all cases. No intraoperative or postoperative compli cations were observed in human eyes except mild corneal edema and mild infl ammatory reaction in the anterior chamber that improved within 1 week. Mean follow-up was 3.4 months. Visualization of the anterior capsule was better with gentian violet 0.01% solution. Conclusions: Gentian violet solutions at 0.01% and 0.001% concentrations ha d no evident toxic effect that caused significant histopathological changes . The staining technique was practical and helped the surgeon visualize the anterior capsule. However, gentian violet may have adverse effects that le ad to corneal edema. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000; 26:. 1228-1232 (C) 2000 ASCRS and ESCRS.