Internal limiting membrane peeling with different dyes in the surgery of idiopathic macular hole: a systematic review of literature and network Meta-analysis

Int J Ophthalmol. 2019 Dec 18;12(12):1917-1928. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2019.12.15. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with indocyanine green (ICG), brilliant blue G (BBG), triamcinolone acetonide (TA), trypan blue (TB), or without dye for the treatment of idiopathic macular hole (IMH).

Methods: A search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for related studies published before October 2018.

Results: A total of 29 studies and 2514 eyes were included in this network Meta-analysis. For IMH closure, the rank from the best to the worse treatment was: BBG, TB, TA, ICG, and no dye. There was a significant difference in postoperative IMH closure rate between BBG and no dye. The rank of the best to the worse treatment to improve visual acuity was: BBG, TB, no dye, TA, and ICG. The improvement rate of visual acuity after using BBG was significantly higher than ICG. The improvement rate of visual acuity was more favorable with TB than ICG, TA, and no dye.

Conclusion: BBG can contribute to better anatomical and functional outcomes compared to other dyes for ILM peeling in patients with IMH. The results show that the best treatment of ILM peeling with dyes is BBG.

Keywords: brilliant blue G; idiopathic macular hole; internal limiting membrane peeling; network Meta-analysis; trypan blue.