Let's learn about the blue dye (Brilliant Blue G) used in eye surgery.

It's normal to feel a little scared when your doctor tells you or someone you know that you need to have eye surgery. This feeling is especially strong when talking about a sensitive organ like the eye. When talking about such surgeries, you may have heard that a special dye is injected into the eye. What exactly is this dye? What does it do? Is it dangerous? Today, we are going to talk about Brilliant Blue G, a special solution used in eye surgeries, to answer a lot of questions like these.

Simply put, what is this Brilliant Blue G?

Imagine you're looking for a very small, transparent crack in a perfectly white wall. It's hard to find with the naked eye, isn't it? But if you pour some blue water on that wall and wipe it, the blue color will seep into the crack and you'll see it clearly. That's the simple idea behind this.

Brilliant Blue G (brand name: TissueBlue) is not a medicine that cures a disease like we take. It is a special dye used during surgery. Its main function is to help the surgeon clearly distinguish and identify the thin, transparent membranes (membranes) inside the eye, not just the normal eye, but also those that are too thin to be seen even under a microscope. This blue dye sticks only to those thin membranes, making them appear blue. Then the doctor can remove only the membrane that needs to be removed very precisely, without damaging other parts.

Why do we need this dye? What are those surgeries?

This dye is especially used in surgeries involving the retina, the very sensitive part of the back of the eye. The retina is like the film in a camera, where the images we see are sent to the brain. This is where Brilliant Blue G comes in handy when treating certain conditions that occur in the retina.

Think about some situations like these:

• Macular Hole: The macula is the main area of ​​the retina that gives us clear, sharp vision. Sometimes a small hole can develop in this macula. Then, things we see become blurry and stretched. During the surgery to close this hole, a very thin membrane (`internal limiting membrane` - ILM) that surrounds it must be removed. Because this membrane is transparent, when a little Brilliant Blue G is applied to it, it turns blue, making it easier for the doctor to remove it.
• Epiretinal Membrane: Sometimes an unwanted membrane, like a sheet of cellophane, can grow over the retina. This causes the retina to pull on itself and distort vision. This dye is also used in this surgery to identify and remove that unwanted membrane.

These surgeries are usually called vitrectomy surgeries. They treat the retina by removing the jelly-like substance (`vitreous humor`) inside the eye.

How do you use this medicine?

This is not a medicine you can take home. This is something that is used exclusively in a hospital or clinic, in an operating room, and only by a specialist .

During the operation, the surgeon uses a very small syringe to inject a small amount of this solution into the eye, onto the desired membrane. Within seconds, the dye adheres to the membrane. The excess dye is then washed away with a solution such as saline. The surgeon can now carefully remove the membrane, which is clearly visible in blue.

Special care should be taken when using this solution on children. So if your child needs this type of surgery, talk to your pediatrician and eye surgeon about it.

Things to tell your doctor before surgery

Since this is something that is given during surgery, it is very important to tell your doctor your complete health history before the surgery. Be sure to tell them about these things in particular.

• Allergies: Be sure to tell your doctor if you have an allergy to Brilliant Blue G or any other medicine, food, dye (e.g. hair dye, fabric dye), or preservatives.
• Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, inform your doctor before surgery.
• If you are a breastfeeding mother: If you are a breastfeeding mother, also mention that.
• Other medications: Give your doctor a complete list of any medications, vitamins, herbal remedies, or supplements you are taking. Some may interact with this solution.

Are there any side effects?

As with any medical procedure, there are risks and a small chance of side effects. However, because it is used in very controlled doses by doctors, serious side effects are very rare.

However, it is important that you are aware of the following symptoms. If these occur after surgery, notify your doctor immediately.

This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual or suspicious, it is best to ask your doctor about it.

What to do if you overdose ?

Since this is administered under medical supervision in a hospital, the chances of an overdose are almost zero. However, if you suspect that you have taken too much of any medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.