Morphologic and Clinical Effects of Subretinal Injection of Indocyanine Green and Infracyanine Green in Rabbits

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of subretinal injection of indocyanine green (ICG), infracyanine (IfCG), and balanced salt solution (BSS) in rabbits. Methods: Ten (10) animals were subjected to a subretinal injection of 0.05% ICG (279 mOsm), 0.5% IfCG (276 mOsm), and BSS (300 mOsm) used as a control. Animals were examined at 6, 12, and 24 h and 14 days following the surgical procedure by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography (FA), and light and transmission electron microscopy. Results: The subretinal injection of ICG caused damage to all retinal layers and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) during the entire follow-up. Subretinal injection of IfCG resulted in abnormalities of the photoreceptor outer segments (POSs) during the entire follow-up; however, abnormalities of the photoreceptor inner segments (PISs) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were observed only 24 h and 14 days after surgery; no RPE damage was observed. FA showed that window defects were more pro...