Trypan Blue
/api/v1/drug/trypan-blueMechanism of action
Sourced from openFDAMembraneBlue 0.15% - Mechanism of action section. MembraneBlue 0.15% selectively stains membranes in the human eye during posterior surgery, such as epiretinal membranes (ERM) and Internal Limiting Membranes (ILM).
Indications
Sourced from openFDA- MembraneBlue 0.15% - Indications & Usage Section MembraneBlue™ 0.15% is indicated for use as an aid in ophthalmic surgery by staining the epiretinal membranes during ophthalmic surgical vitrectomy procedures, facilitating removal of the tissue in adults and pediatric patients. These highlights do not include all the information needed to use MEMBRANEBLUE™ safely and effectively.
Contraindications
Sourced from openFDA- MembraneBlue 0.15% - Contraindications section. MembraneBlue 0.15% is contraindicated when a non-hydrated (dry state), hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) is planned to be inserted into the eye.contraindicated
Dosage & administration
Sourced from openFDAMembraneBlue 0.15% - Dosage & administration section MembraneBlue 0.15% is packaged in a single-patient-use syringe filled to a volume of 0.5 mL. Make sure the plunger moves smoothly before use. Prime the syringe prior to use by retracting the plunger before injecting the fluid. Alternatively, twist the plunger into the stopper in a clockwise motion until tight. Once tight, continue turning the plunger in a clockwise motion until the stopper rotates freely within the syringe, two or three rotations. The syringe is now primed and suitable for injection. Before injection of MembraneBlue perform a “fluid-air exchange” (i.e., filling the entire vitreous cavity with air, to prevent aqueous dilution of MembraneBlue). MembraneBlue is carefully applied to the retinal membrane using a blunt cannula attached to the MembraneBlue syringe, without allowing the cannula to contact or damage the retina. Sufficient staining is expected on contact with the membrane. All excess dye should be removed from the vitreous cavity before performing an air-fluid exchange, to prevent unnecessary spreading of the dye. MembraneBlue can also be injected directly in a BSS filled vitreous cavity (instead of injecting under air). Clinical use demonstrated that, after complete vitreous and posterior hyaloid removal, sufficient staining is achieved after 30 seconds of application under BSS. MembraneBlue is intended to be applied directly on the areas where membranes could be present, staining any portion of the membrane which comes in contact with the dye. The dye does not penetrate the membrane.
Warnings & precautions
Sourced from openFDAMembraneBlue 0.15% - Warnings and precautions section Excessive Staining Excess MembraneBlue 0.15% should be immediately removed from the eye after staining. Priming of the Syringe To make sure the plunger moves smoothly before use, first retract the plunger or twist the plunger in a clockwise motion before injecting the fluid. Excessive Staining: Excess MembraneBlue 0.15% should be immediately removed from the eye after staining. Priming of the Syringe: To make sure the plunger moves smoothly before use, first retract the plunger or twist the plunger in a clockwise motion before injecting the fluid.
Adverse reactions
Sourced from openFDAMembraneBlue 0.15% - Adverse reactions section Adverse reactions reported following use of MembraneBlue 0.15% include discoloration of high water content hydrogen intraocular lenses [see Contraindications] and inadvertent staining of the posterior lens capsule and vitreous face. Staining of the posterior lens capsule or staining of the vitreous face is generally self limited, lasting up to one week. Most common adverse reactions include discoloration of high water content hydrogen intraocular lenses and inadvertent staining of the posterior lens capsule and vitreous face. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS contact Dutch Ophthalmic, USA at 1-800-75-DUTCH or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Use in specific populations
Sourced from openFDAMembraneBlue - Use in specific populations section MembraneBlue should not be given to pregnant women MembraneBlue - Pregnancy section Risk Summary There are no available data on the use of MembraneBlue 0.15% in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Systemic absorption of MembraneBlue 0.15% in humans is expected to be negligible following injection and subsequent removal of the drug at the completion of surgical procedures. Adequate animal reproduction studies were not conducted with MembraneBlue 0.15%, however, trypan blue has been shown to be teratogenic in various animal models at doses 323-fold and greater than the maximum recommended human dose, based on body surface area (BSA). Due to the negligible human systemic exposure when used as recommended, it is not expected that maternal use of MembraneBlue will result in fetal exposure to the drug and risk of teratogenic effects. Data Animal Data Trypan blue is teratogenic in rats, mice, rabbits, hamsters, dogs, guinea pigs, pigs, and chickens. The majority of teratogenicity studies performed involve intravenous, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous administration in the rat. The teratogenic dose is 50 mg/kg as a single dose or 25 mg/kg/day during embryogenesis in the rat.
Approval history
Sourced from openFDA- Dec 16, 2004NDANDA021670Dorc
- Feb 20, 2009NDANDA022278Dorc
FAERS reports
- 1Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome2452%
- 2Blindness2248%
- 3Corneal Oedema1022%
- 4Product Quality Issue613%
- 5Cerebral Infarction36.5%
- 6Endophthalmitis36.5%
- 7Off Label Use36.5%
- 8Pigmentation Disorder36.5%
- 9Thyroid Disorder36.5%
- 10Condition Aggravated24.3%
- 11Vision Blurred24.3%
- 12Corneal Decompensation12.2%
- 13Corneal Degeneration12.2%
- 14Drug Interaction12.2%
- 15Eye Disorder12.2%
Literature
Recent PubMed references pinned to Trypan Blue as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Detection of Occult Retinal Breaks Using Subretinal Dye in Recurrent Retinal Detachment Surgery.Turkish journal of ophthalmology · 2026 · Sül S, Tamer Kaderli S, Osmanlı E, et al.PMID 41705864DOI 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2025.91043
- Three-Dimensional Imaging of Human Myocardial Collagen Fibers Using Trypan Blue Staining.Sovremennye tekhnologii v meditsine · 2025 · Beketova AA, Kirik OV, Korzhevskii DE, et al.PMID 41426970DOI 10.17691/stm2025.17.5.04
- Trypan blue staining for fungal keratitis diagnosis: a comparative study in rural India.International ophthalmology · 2025 · Gokhale TN, Joseph J, Rathi VM, et al.PMID 41042281DOI 10.1007/s10792-025-03749-2
- Microbiota Analysis and Standard Culture Identify Bacteria in Ophthalmic Trypan Blue Solution Commonly Used During Canine Cataract Surgery.Veterinary ophthalmology · 2026 · Sieve AC, Giuliano EA, McAdams ZL, et al.PMID 40846812DOI 10.1111/vop.70064
- Enhancing specimen preparation for transmission electron microscopy: Trypan Blue staining and low-melting-point agar embedding for ultra-thin cell sections.Journal of bioscience and bioengineering · 2025 · Ishii N, Koja Y, Noguchi K, et al.PMID 40055128DOI 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2025.02.003
- Endothelialectomy With Trypan Blue Staining to Enhance Descemetorhexis Visualization.Cornea · 2025 · Cheung AY, de la Presa M, Silverberg ML, et al.PMID 39778152DOI 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003802
- Presumed phototoxicity from macular vital staining with Brilliant Blue G and Trypan Blue: A post-market surveillance study, systematic review, and synthesis of the literature.Survey of ophthalmology · 2025 · Neffendorf JE, Jackson TLPMID 39566564DOI 10.1016/j.survophthal.2024.11.006
- The use of trypan blue to enhance intraoperative visualization during congenital lacrimal fistulectomy.Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus · 2024 · Solyman O, Elhusseiny AM, Allen RC, et al.PMID 39366650DOI 10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.104016
Clinical trials
The 10 most recently updated of 21 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Trypan Blue as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.
- The Belgian Endothelial Surgical Transplant of the CorneaRecruiting · Interventional · 220 enrolled · University Hospital, AntwerpNCT05436665updated 2026-04-03
- Impact of ILM Peeling in RRD/ I-PeelActive not recruiting · Interventional · 250 enrolled · Berner AugenklinikNCT04767555updated 2025-12-08
- The Viability Control of Human Endothelial Cells Before Keratoplasty (V-CHECK) StudyRecruiting · Observational · 135 enrolled · Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di BresciaNCT05847387updated 2025-10-02
- Mechanical Properties of the Internal Limiting Membrane and Intraoperative Utility of Brilliant Blue g (Bbg) and Indocyanine Green (Icg) Assisted ChromovitrectomyRecruiting · Observational · 50 enrolled · University Hospital, Basel, SwitzerlandNCT01485575updated 2025-02-13
- Endothelial Side Up Inverted Femtosecond Laser Assisted DSAEKRecruiting · Interventional · 15 enrolled · Dar El Oyoun HospitalNCT06652321updated 2024-10-22
- Prospective, Single-blind Study Assessing the Benefit/Risk Ratio of Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM) Peeling During Epimacular Membrane (EMM) Surgery (Peeling)Completed · Interventional · 213 enrolled · Nantes University HospitalNCT02146144updated 2023-02-10
- Combined Phacoaspiration and Angle Surgery Versus Phacoaspiration in Pediatric CataractUnknown · Interventional · 30 enrolled · Mansoura UniversityNCT05401760updated 2022-09-08
- Autologous Adipose Derived Stem Cells Transplantation in the Treatment of Keloids.Completed · Phase 2 · Interventional · 8 enrolled · Makerere UniversityNCT04553159updated 2021-06-18
- Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison TrialUnknown · Phase 4 · Interventional · 38 enrolled · Oregon Health and Science UniversityNCT02373137updated 2020-11-25
- Outcomes Based on the Pre-operative Integrity of IS/OS Junction in Idiopathic Epimacular Membrane SurgeryCompleted · Observational · 18 enrolled · Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaNCT04158791updated 2019-11-13
Frequently asked questions
- How does Trypan Blue work?
- MembraneBlue 0.15% - Mechanism of action section. MembraneBlue 0.15% selectively stains membranes in the human eye during posterior surgery, such as epiretinal membranes (ERM) and Internal Limiting Membranes (ILM).
- What is Trypan Blue used for?
- According to FDA labeling, Trypan Blue carries indications including: MembraneBlue 0.15% - Indications & Usage Section MembraneBlue™ 0.15% is indicated for use as an aid in ophthalmic surgery by staining the epiretinal membranes during ophthalmic surgical vitrectomy procedures, facilitating removal of the tissue in adults and pediatric patients. These highlights do not include all the information needed to use MEMBRANEBLUE™ safely and effectively.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
- What class of drug is Trypan Blue?
- Trypan Blue is classified as Other surgical aids.
- What are the contraindications for Trypan Blue?
- Trypan Blue labeling lists contraindications including: MembraneBlue 0.15% - Contraindications section. MembraneBlue 0.15% is contraindicated when a non-hydrated (dry state), hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) is planned to be inserted into the eye.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
trypan-blue is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.