A Surgical Technique to Protect the Macular Hole in Indocyanine Green-Assisted Vitrectomy

To prevent indocyanine green (ICG) toxicity during macular hole repair, a surgical technique was designed in which the hole is protected by a viscoelastic material before injecting ICG to stain the internal limiting membrane. The area covered by the viscoelastic material was not stained by ICG. The internal limiting membrane was peeled without difficulty by taking advantage of the ICG stain outlining it. After surgery, all holes closed and the postoperative outcomes were favorable. Only a small amount of residual ICG remained in the macular area. This surgical technique does not interfere with internal limiting membrane peeling and reduces the residual ICG postoperatively. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging 2006;37:511-515.] AUTHORS From the Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan. Accepted for publication May 18, 2006. Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Vitreoretina Society of Japan, Fukuoka, Japan, December 13, 2003. Address reprint requests to Masaaki Saito, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.