No abstract

Background/Aims: To provide evidence of statistically significant difference in the surgical outcome of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures (LTS + ES) versus the Quickert procedure (QP) in the treatment of involutional entropion. Methods: In a prospective randomized comparative trial, 66 eyelids of 52 patients with primary involutional lower eyelid entropion were recruited. Thirtysix eyelids were randomized to QP, and 30 eyelids were randomized to LTS + ES. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. Postoperative follow-up was scheduled after 2 weeks, 8 and 14 months. Successful surgery was defined as a normal eyelid position at rest and inability to induce entropion on forced eyelid closure at or before the 14-month follow-up visit. Results: A total of 66 eyelids of 52 patients were enrolled in the study. Three patients did not complete follow-up (1 did not attend the 8 months follow-up visit; 2 did not attend 14 months follow-up visit). Of the 63 patients, a single eyelid [success probability 0.97; confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1] in the QP group and two treated eyelids [success probability of 0.93; CI: 0.85-1] in the LTS + ES group had a recurrence of a lower eyelid entropion after 14 months. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical failure between the LTS + ES versus QP (Log-rank test: p = 0.46). Conclusion: These data provide strong evidence that success rates at 14 months are similar in patients treated with either techniques (LTS + ES versus QP).

For the last 8 years vital dyes have been used to visualize preretinal semitransparent structures in the eye during vitroretinal surgery. However, indocyanine green (ICG), which was the first commonly used dye, proved to be partly toxic to retinal cells and the retinal pigment epithelium in various in vitro and in vivo studies. Therefore, an intensive search for new and safer dyes was started. At present three dyes, trypan blue, patent blue and brilliant blue are predominantly used for vitreoretinal surgery, in addition to ICG. In this article an overview of preclinical biocompatibility studies for common vital dyes is presented. Additionally, a systematic approach for testing of new candidate dyes for vitreoretinal surgery will be proposed.

This article reviews the most relevant vital dyes and adjuncts currently available for use in vitreoretinal surgical procedures. The current concepts of intraocular application as well as the staining properties are described, and the issue of biocompatibility is discussed.

Chromovitrectomy represents a recent development in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. Several dyes are available for intraocular application with different staining characteristics. Before the intraoperative use in humans, new dyes need to be evaluated thoroughly in experimental in vivo and ex vivo studies in order to detect potential adverse effects related to dye toxicity. This article describes a reasonable approach for the assessment of novel dyes prior to the use in humans.