How it appears: electron microscopic evaluation of internal limiting membrane specimens obtained during brilliant blue G assisted macular hole surgery

1 Several advantages compared with other dyes such as indocyanine green or trypan blue have been reported. 2 In particular, BBG did not show apoptotic death of retinal cells as it was found in laboratory investigations on indocyanine green and trypan blue. 3 4 To determine if there are any pathological changes in the ILM and adherent structures or apparent damage to the retina, we analysed surgical specimens of BBG assisted ILM peeling in macular hole surgery using electron microscopy. [...]we did not observe entire foot plates of Mueller cells or large amounts of intracytoplasmatic Mueller cell components such as cell nuclei adherent to the retinal surface of the ILM, as noted following indocyanine green assisted peeling of the ILM. 6 - 8 In summary, neither the retinal nor the vitreal side of ILM specimens obtained during BBG assisted ILM peeling revealed morphological alterations one might relate to adverse effects of BBG.