Fluorescein dye as a novel cost-effective approach for staining raw specimens in ophthalmic pathology

To study the usefulness of sodium fluorescein dye for staining raw specimens in ophthalmic pathology.

Laboratory-based observational study. Eye specimens received in the ocular pathology department of a tertiary eye care center in northeast India were included in the study after obtaining the informed consent. The study period was from 2016 to 2019. Specimens received were a corneal button, lid, orbital tissues, enucleated eyeballs, eviscerated eye, explanted intraocular lens (IOLs), optic nerve and ocular parasites. Sections of the gross specimens were stained with sodium fluorescein (C₂₀H₁₂O₅NA) dye. The average duration of tissue-stain contact time was 45 s. The sections were analyzed under the compound microscope. The intensity of illumination of the microscope was modulated to obtain high contrast digital photographs.

26 corneal buttons with or without limbal tissue specimens were analyzed with fluorescein staining procedure; limbus with its pigmented cells were seen in the enucleated eyeballs. 33 enucleated eyes (retinoblastoma [RB] (n = 24), phthisical eyes (n = 4), choroidal melanomas (n = 2), and others (n = 3) were included in the study cohort. In these 33 enucleated eyes, vitreous were also examined for the presence of hyalocytes and other pathological cells. Retinal pigment epithelial cells were also seen (n = 11). RB seeds were seen with fluorescein stain and documented in 14 specimens. The RB seeds were mostly in vitreous (n = 9) and subretinal space (n = 5). Fat cells (n = 8) from orbital tissues and sebaceous cells (n = 5) from frozen section specimens were also observed and documented.

This study highlights a novel method of rapid staining of gross ophthalmic pathology specimens.