Supplementary Material for: Retinal “Caratopathy”: Diamond Dust Residuals after Surgeries

Diamond dust particles were identified within patients’ eyes both during vitrectomy procedures using diamond-dusted membrane scrapers and in postoperative clinical examinations. The particles had no impact on the patients’ vision and caused no apparent sequelae. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the average particle size to be 23.4 μm and an unequal surface area for particle adhesion onto the soft tip. It was determined that diamond dust particles can dislodge from the silicone tip of the Tano diamond-dusted membrane scrapers during the insertion into valve trocars throughout vitrectomy operations and deposit on the retinal surface or within macular holes. Ophthalmologists should be aware of residual diamond particles during procedures and consider diamond dust retinopathy in the differential diagnosis of crystalline retinopathies. Understanding the appearance of residual particles on the retina allows for future studies revealing the long-term impact on patient’s visual performance.

在使用带金刚石涂层的膜刮刀（diamond-dusted membrane scrapers）开展玻璃体切割术期间，以及术后临床检查中，均于患者眼内检出金刚石粉尘颗粒。该类颗粒未对患者视力造成任何影响，亦未引发明显后遗症。扫描电子显微镜分析结果显示，此类颗粒的平均粒径为23.4 μm，且其粘附于软质刀头的表面积不均一。经证实，在玻璃体切割手术过程中，Tano牌带金刚石涂层的膜刮刀的硅胶刀头在插入瓣膜套管针时，金刚石粉尘颗粒可从刀头上脱落，并沉积于视网膜表面或黄斑裂孔内。眼科医师应在手术过程中警惕残留的金刚石颗粒，并在对结晶性视网膜病变进行鉴别诊断时，将金刚石粉尘性视网膜病变纳入鉴别范畴。明确视网膜上残留颗粒的形态特征，可为后续研究探明其对患者视觉功能的长期影响奠定基础。