Indocyanine green-aited peeling of the internal limiting membrane may caue retinal damage

PURPOE: To demontrate poible retinal damage caued by indocyanine green dye for taining of the internal limiting membrane in urgery for idiopathic macular hole. METHOD: Conecutive interventional cae erie. We report on the ultratructural finding of the internal limiting membrane in 10 eye of 10 patient. REULT: All pecimen revealed not only the internal limiting membrane, but alo ome mall amount of retinal element, uch a the plama membrane of Müller cell and other undetermined tructure. Thi indicate a cleavage plane not exactly at the inner undulating apect of the internal limiting membrane but within the innermot retinal layer. CONCLUION: Dilution of indocyanine green a recommended in the literature may alter the tructure of the retina to ome degree. Poible factor reponible for thi inadvertent action may include (1) concentration, (2) omolarity pH, (3) time of tiue contact, and (4) mechanical factor from more forceful traction during peeling. Although functional conequence of thee finding remain unclear a yet, factor that may induce damage to the innermot retina hould be elucidated.