Our Summary

This research paper is about a study that was conducted to test the usefulness of a dye called MembraneBlue-Dual™ in finding hidden tears or breaks in the retina during surgery for a condition called rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). This condition happens when the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, detaches from the back of the eye, often due to a tear or break in the retina.

In the study, the researchers looked at five patients who were having surgery to fix RRD. Before the surgery, the doctors couldn’t find any tears or breaks in their retinas, even though they looked really carefully. During the surgery, they put 0.1ml of the dye into the part of the eye where the vitreous, a jelly-like substance that helps the eye maintain its round shape, is located. Immediately after putting in the dye, they sucked out any extra dye.

The researchers found that in every single case, they were able to find at least one more tear or break after they put in the dye. These additional breaks were then treated with cryotherapy or a laser. Six months after the surgery, all the patients were doing well and none of them had a re-detachment of the retina.

The researchers concluded that this dye is really helpful for finding hidden tears or breaks in the retina during surgery for RRD. It also has some other benefits: it makes it easier to see the edges of the tears or breaks, and it helps distinguish them from other structures in the eye. Plus, because of its physical properties, there’s no need to swap out the fluid in the eye with air, which is typically done in this type of surgery.

FAQs

  1. What is the primary purpose of surgery for managing primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)?
  2. How effective is the use of membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution in detecting preoperatively unidentified retinal and iatrogenic breaks?
  3. What is the greatest advantage of using the “heavy” dye solution membrane blue-dual in retinal surgery?

Doctor’s Tip

Tip: A doctor might recommend using a heavy dye solution, such as MembraneBlue-Dual™, during retinal surgery to improve the identification of retinal breaks and increase the success rate of the procedure. This can help prevent the need for additional procedures and reduce the risk of re-detachment.

Suitable For

Patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who have unidentified preoperative retinal breaks despite meticulous examination may be recommended for retinal surgery using membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution. This dye solution can improve the intraoperative identification of retinal breaks and aid in successful repair of the detachment.

Timeline

Before retinal surgery:

  1. Patient presents with symptoms of retinal detachment such as flashes of light, floaters, and a curtain-like shadow over their vision.
  2. Patient undergoes a comprehensive eye examination including dilated eye exam, ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography to diagnose the retinal detachment.
  3. Surgeon determines the extent and location of retinal breaks through pre-operative examination using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy with indentation.
  4. Despite meticulous examination, some retinal breaks may go undetected prior to surgery.

After retinal surgery:

  1. MembraneBlue-Dual™ dye solution is applied onto the vitreous cavity during vitrectomy surgery.
  2. Excess dye is aspirated, and the surgery is completed with gas tamponade.
  3. Intraoperative examination with internal peripheral indentation reveals additional retinal breaks that were previously unidentified.
  4. Additional breaks are treated with cryotherapy or endolaser during the surgery.
  5. Six months post-surgery, the success rate is 100% with no cases of re-detachment reported.
  6. The use of membrane blue-dual dye solution improves the intraoperative identification of retinal breaks and eliminates the need for certain procedures such as fluid-air exchange, injection of PFCL, or subretinal injection.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. How does membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution improve the identification of undetected retinal breaks during surgery?
  2. What are the potential risks or side effects associated with using membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution?
  3. How does the use of membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution impact the overall success rate of retinal detachment surgery?
  4. Are there any specific precautions or considerations that need to be taken into account when using membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution during surgery?
  5. How long does it typically take for the dye to be absorbed or cleared from the eye after surgery?
  6. Are there any limitations or contraindications for using membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution in certain patients or cases of retinal detachment?
  7. How does the use of membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution compare to other dyes or techniques for identifying retinal breaks during surgery?
  8. Will additional follow-up or monitoring be necessary after surgery when membrane blue-dual heavy dye solution is used?

Reference

Authors: Papavasileiou E. Journal: Hell J Nucl Med. 2019 Sep-Dec;22 Suppl 2:63-70. PMID: 31802047