Trypan Blue Dye In Extra-Capsular Cataract Surgery: Initial Observations

Abstract

One hundred and seventy-two (172) eyes had their anterior lens capsules stained with trypan blue vital dye while 154 eyes, that had no staining of their anterior lens capsules during extra-capsular cataract extraction at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, the previous year, served as controls. The two groups had incidence of striate keratitis, anterior capsule remnants, unplanned anterior chamber (A/C) lens implants and average increase in surgery time compared. The trypan blue group had better results than the non-trypan group. The trypan blue group had an incidence of 40.7% striate keratitis as against 57.1% of the non-trypan blue group, 5.3% unplanned A/C lens implants against 15.6% in the non-trypan blue group and 0.0% anterior capsule remnants as against 7.8% of the non-trypan blue group. There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of these complications (p<0.01) The non-trypan group had an average increase in surgery time of 11 minutes over the trypan blue group. Trypan blue vital dye gives a better mastery and control of the procedure of capsulotomy and capsulorrhexis in extra capsular cataract extraction and results in fewer complications

Keywords: Trypan blue dye, extra capsular cataract extraction.

Journal of Mining and Geology Vol. 5 (1&2) 2006: pp. 1-4