Anterior capsule staining for capsulorhexis in cases of white cataract: comparative clinical study

To compare the safety and efficacy of trypan blue 0.1%, gentian violet 0.001%, indocyanine green 0.5% (ICG), fluorescein 2%, and the patient's autologous blood for anterior capsule staining in cases of white cataract.

Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Fifty eyes of 50 patients with age-related white cataract had anterior capsule staining with trypan blue, ICG, or gentian violet under an air bubble or subcapsularly with fluorescein or autologous blood followed by phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation. Each stain was used in 10 eyes. The ease of creating a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) and the complications during the surgery were noted. Postoperative examinations at 6 hours, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month included slitlamp microscopy, uncorrected visual acuity, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The staining patterns on the anterior capsule, side port, corneal tunnel, and anterior cortex were assessed intraoperatively and within 6 hours and at 1 day. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed at 1 day; pachymetry, at 1 day and 1 month; and the endothelial cell count, at 1 month.

The surgeon had best visualization during the anterior capsulorhexis with trypan blue, ICG, and gentian violet, and a complete CCC was achieved in all eyes in the 3 groups. Two eyes each in the fluorescein and autologous blood groups had extension of the CCC so that the capsulorhexis was complete but not curvilinear. Anterior capsule fibrosis was detected with trypan blue (1 eye) and ICG (2 eyes). The anterior vitreous was stained with fluorescein in 2 eyes. All eyes achieved a BCVA of 20/30 or better from 1 week postoperatively to the last follow-up. The side port and corneal tunnel were stained most intensely with gentian violet followed by trypan blue and ICG and less intensely with fluorescein and autologous blood. The IOP, pachymetry, and endothelial cell loss were comparable between the stains.

Although trypan blue, ICG, gentian violet, fluorescein, and autologous blood were safely used to stain the anterior capsule for phacoemulsification in eyes with white cataract, trypan blue, ICG, and gentian violet were more effective in staining the capsule.