Different applications of trypan blue (TB) for intraocular surgery have been reported, with very high levels of safety and efficacy. We describe the use of TB as an alternative vital dye for staining the ocular surface to assess the integrity of superficial cell layers of the cornea and the surface environment. This facilitates the diagnosis of various ocular surface disorders, including screening for dry eye disease (DED) among refractive and cataract patients. TB staining properties are different from fluorescein and both are stable in a solution, so that a double staining technique is introduced.
Eye diseases; Ophthalmologic surgical procedures; Trypan blue; Staining and labeling; Case reports