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Indocyanine green exposure causes RPE cytotoxic effects in lab tests

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A fluorescent dye used in macular hole surgery produced cytotoxic effects in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells, according to a study.

Jau-Der Ho, MD, and researchers at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan, Taiwan, studied the effects of indocyanine green (ICG) on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

Cultured human RPE cells were exposed to ICG concentrations of 0.005 mg/mL to 5 mg/mL. Incubation duration ranged from 5 minutes to 3 hours.

ICG was found to be detrimental to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in varying doses after 10 minutes of exposure. Cells exposed to ICG for 10 minutes in 5 mg/mL, 20 minutes in 1 mg/mL and 3 hours in 0.01 mg/mL of solution had altered morphological features, a decrease in mitochrondrial dehydrogenase activity and localized cell death.

To prevent such effects, the researchers suggested that surgeons clean the vitreous cavity following macular hole surgery to thoroughly rid the area of ICG solution.

The study is published in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.