Abstract
Purpose :
The Xen gel stent (Allergan, Madison, NJ) is one of the newest minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices. It provides intraocular pressure (IOP) control via subconjunctival bleb formation using an ab interno approach. Due to its small size and light color, placement and revision of the Xen can be challenging. Staining of the stent with dye may enable improved visualization and efficiency of implantation. We evaluated staining of the implant and the sustainability of coloration.
Methods :
We stained Xen gel stents with 3 vital dyes preservative-free Trypan blue 1.5 % (Greenpark Compounding Pharmacy, Houston, TX), Brilliant Blue 0.05% (Coomassie Brilliant Blue G 250, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), and indocyanine green (ICG) 0.5% (Cardiogreen Polymethine Dye, Sigma-Aldrich Co.); surgical skin marker (Surgical Marker 1451, Viscot, East Hanover, NJ); and black India ink (Rapidograph ink, Chartpak, Inc., Leeds, MA), green ink (Rapidograph ink), and blue ink (Rapidograph ink). The stained Xen gel stents and an unstained stent were immersed in 2 ml of balanced salt solution (BSS) and washed with agitation at (37oC) for the duration of the experiment. Photographs were taken at Day 0, Day 14, and Day 30.
Results :
At Day 0, all stents except the control were stained. At Day 14, the Trypan blue, ICG , black India ink, and green ink stents remained stained; the rest had no visible staining. The stain on the stent marked with surgical marker had dissolved in BSS by Day 14. At Day 30, the Trypan blue, black India ink, and green ink stents remained stained. The ICG stent was lightly stained; the rest had no visible staining.
Conclusions :
Trypan blue, ICG, black India ink, and green ink staining can provide sustained coloration of the Xen gel stent. Staining may be beneficial for visibility of the stent during implantation and needle revision.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.