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 surgery for a retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole. METHODS: A 62-year-old man who had a retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole underwent vitrectomy, During the surgery, intravitreal indocyanine green was injected intravitreally, RESULTS: The internal-limiting membrane was stained green, but the epiretinal membrane was unstained. Because the epiretinal membrane and internal-limiting membrane were clearly identified, they could be completely removed. The clinical observations of the epiretinal membrane and internal-limiting membrane excised were confirmed by electron microscopy, Successful reattachment was obtained without damage to the retina. CONCLUSION: Removal of epiretinal membrane and internal-limiting membrane can be facilitated by using intravitreal indocyanine green during vitrectomy. We recommend further studies to confirm the benefit of this technique. (Am J Ophthalmol 2001;131:388-390. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).