Indocyanine green facilitates removal of epiretinal and internal limiting membranes in myopic eyes with retinal detachment

PURPOSE: To describe the use of intravitreal indocyanine green as an aid to identifying epiretinal membranes and internal-limiting membranes during su rgery for a retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole. METHODS: A 62-year-old man who had a retinal detachment resulting from a ma cular hole underwent vitrectomy, During the surgery, intravitreal indocyani ne green was injected intravitreally, RESULTS: The internal-limiting membrane was stained green, but the epiretin al membrane was unstained. Because the epiretinal membrane and internal-lim iting membrane were clearly identified, they could be completely removed. T he clinical observations of the epiretinal membrane and internal-limiting m embrane excised were confirmed by electron microscopy, Successful reattachm ent was obtained without damage to the retina. CONCLUSION: Removal of epiretinal membrane and internal-limiting membrane c an be facilitated by using intravitreal indocyanine green during vitrectomy . We recommend further studies to confirm the benefit of this technique. (A m J Ophthalmol 2001;131:388-390. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All righ ts reserved.).