Macular peeling-induced retinal damage: clinical and histopathological evaluation after using different dyes

To describe functional and histopathological findings after macular peeling using different dyes.

Prospective, randomized, comparative, interventional, and immunohistochemical study. Forty-five eyes from 45 patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) underwent pars plana chromovitrectomy with ERM and inner limiting membrane (ILM) using trypan blue 0.15% + brilliant blue 0.05% + lutein 2% in group 1 (15 eyes), trypan blue 0.15% + brilliant blue 0.025% + polyethylene glycol 3350 4% in group 2 (15 eyes), and indocyanine green 0.05% in group 3 (15 eyes). We evaluated visual acuity (VA) and macular sensitivity (MS) preoperatively, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament protein (NF) was assessed immunohistochemically on the ILMs peeled as markers of glial and neuronal cells.

In group 1, both mean VA and MS were significantly better at 1 and 3 months after surgery (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found after 6 months. GFAP and NF expression was significantly lower in group 1 (P < 0.05).

The ERM/ILM peeling is thought to rip off the intraretinal tissue, based on the amounts of GFAP and NF in the specimens. The use of lutein dyes reduces iatrogenic stress to the retinal tissue and allows a faster functional recovery in the first 3 months after surgery, suggesting a less iatrogenic adhesion to the retinal tissue.