Intraoperative corneal staining during cataract surgery

Abstract

Intraoperative corneal staining with trypan blue dye is an uncommon complication of cataract surgery that occurs at the time of staining of the anterior capsule. Inadvertent corneal staining with Descemet’s membrane detachment (DMD) occurred in a 70-year-old male, while stromal edema following corneal staining occurred in an 80-year-old female while attempting to stain the anterior capsule. DMD was managed with air tamponade, and stromal edema was conservatively managed. One must thus be aware of corneal staining with trypan blue during cataract surgery. This complication can be avoided by using sharp-tipped instruments, proper wound construction, and proper depth perception, which can be done by adjusting the microscope.