A model of photothermally-induced damage to the retina during indocyanine green-assisted peeling of the inner limiting membrane

Intentional removal of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) in macular hole surgery is becoming a well-recognized procedure. It is usually performed with the assistance of Indocyanine Green (ICG), which selectively stains the membrane, in order to facilitate the visual control of surgery operations. In this theoretical study we investigate the possibility of heat damage to the retina being caused by the combination of ICG staining with the illumination provided by a standard light source for vitreo-retinal surgery, composed of a Xenon lamp and an optical fiber delivery system. For this purpose, we set up a bi-dimensional analytical model that describes light absorption and heat conduction in ICG-stained ILM and in retinal structures.