Iontophoresis of indocyanine green and Monastral Blue B for gonioscopic diode laser sclerectomy

Ab interno gonioscopic diode laser sclerectomy should allow the creation of a filtration fistula in glaucoma treatment using light energy in the near infrared range. Diode laser sclerectomy can be facilitated by dying the sclera to optimize laser energy absorption at the appropriate wavelength, Indocyanine green (ICG) and Monastral Blue B (MBB) are two dyes that have their peak absorptions in the near infrared region. This study determined the feasibility of ICG and MBB iontophoresis in human cadaver sclera and transconjunctivally in rabbits in vivo. MBB was unable to achieve full-thickness scleral staining in either model. ICG was able to penetrate 400 mu m in human cadaver sclera and approximately 500 mu m transconjunctivally in rabbit sclera in vivo.