Persistent staining of lattice lines after intraoperative trypan blue use in patients with lattice corneal dystrophy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report the persistent staining of corneal lattice lines resulting from the intraoperative use of trypan blue. METHODS: This is a case series. RESULTS: Four patients with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) who underwent either deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty or cataract extraction with intraoperative trypan blue use demonstrated persistent, postoperative trypan staining of lattice lines on slit-lamp examination out to final follow-up (range, 176 to 541 days postoperatively). CONCLUSIONS: This case series demonstrates the previously unreported finding that intraoperative trypan blue stains corneal lattice lines in LCD. Trypan blue staining, localized in previous laboratory studies to amyloid deposits, seems to persist for months or longer and may be permanent in human tissue. Although the staining was not visually significant, animal models suggest a stimulatory effect on progression of amyloidosis. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for permanent corneal staining and possible disease progression with the use of intraoperative trypan blue in patients with LCD.