Chromovitrectomy and vital dyes

It is important to secure visibility during microsurgery. In vitreous surgery, staining and peeling of the internal limiting membrane with vital dyes, such as indocyanine green, have been widely performed since 2000, and surgical outcomes have improved in some vitreoretinal disorders such as macular holes and epiretinal membranes. It has been subsequently shown that triamcinolone acetonide is an adjuvant that is extremely effective for intraoperative vitreous visualization. In recent years, the term 'chromovitrectomy' has been used for performance of a vitrectomy using these surgical adjuvants for improved visibility. While there have been reports that an auxiliary chromovitrectomy with vital dyes is very effective, the question of retinal toxicity with use of these dyes remains. Therefore, a new safer vital dye, i.e. brilliant blue G, was developed and applied in clinical use. Chromovitrectomy using these adjuvants is an important technique that has low invasiveness and is very safe and very helpful in microincision vitrectomy surgery.