Evaluation of retinal functional changes after macular hole surgery using heavy brilliant blue G dye for internal limiting membrane staining: A prospective, single blind, randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal functional changes after idiopathic macular hole (MH) surgery using heavy brilliant blue G (hBBG) dye for internal limiting membrane (ILM) staining. METHODS: Forty-four eyes with idiopathic MH were randomized into two groups – 24 eyes undergoing vitrectomy with ILM peeling using hBBG staining and 20 eyes without staining; anatomical and functional status (with microperimetry (MP)) at baseline and during postoperative follow-up were noted and compared. RESULTS: All eyes had closure of MH postoperatively and overall baseline MP indices (average threshold, AT; foveal sensitivity, FS) improved significantly at 6 weeks and 6 months of follow-up. AT and FS showed significant improvement at 6 weeks and 6 months from baseline in both individual groups (P < 0.001). Intergroup comparison showed that there was no statistically significant difference in AT and FS values at any point of time (baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months) between staining and no-stain group. No eyes in our cohort had any unexplained visual loss. CONCLUSION: Functional parameters of macula improved significantly after successful MH surgery using hBBG for staining the ILM.