Colored visco-elastic composition
The invention relates to a visco-elastic composition for use in ocular surgery and to a method of using said composition. Specifically, the present visco-elastic composition comprises a visco-elastic substance and at least one vital dye. The invention enables a visual distinction of the visco-elastic composition from the surrounding aqueous or intraocular structures during ocular surgery, so that the amount present within the eye, the location and the effects of the visco-elastic material can be better monitored.
1. A method of performing intraocular surgery, refractive surgery, cataract surgery, coreal surgery, glaucoma surgery, posterior segment surgery, or retinal detachment surgery comprising the application of a composition to a human eye or a part thereof wherein the composition comprises at least one visco-elastic substance and at least one vital dye, which dye substantially does not diffuse out of the visco-elastic composition, and wherein the dye has a molecular weight below 2,000 D and is represented by formula (I)
wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different aryl groups, and wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently chosen from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, amino, hydroxyl, and sulfonate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visco-elastic substance is hyaluronic acid or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same and formed by naphthyl groups substituted with one or more of sulfonate groups, amino groups and hydroxyl groups.
4. A method of performing intraocular surgery, refractive surgery, cataract surgery, coreal surgery, glaucoma surgery, posterior segment surgery, or retinal detachment surgery comprising the application of a composition to a human eye or a part thereof wherein the composition comprises at least one visco-elastic substance and trypan blue, wherein the trypan blue substantially does not diffuse out of the visco-elastic composition, and wherein the trypan blue is capable of staining tissue substantially without diffusing through said tissue.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has the form of a physiologically compatible solution or colloidal gel.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one vital dye is present in a concentration between 0.0005 and 0.01 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one vital dye is present in a concentration between 0.01 and 1 wt. %, based on the weight of the composition.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises between 0.8 and 1.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the solution, of a salt.