ILM-Blue from DORC Receives NMPA Approval in China

Jena, Germany | March 27, 2025 | Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

ZEISS Medical Technology announced today that the ILM staining dye ILM-Blue^® from DORC (Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center International B.V.) has received National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval in China, marking a significant milestone in the product's global journey.

"ZEISS and DORC are committed to supporting surgeons in the China market with the latest innovation and tools that create a higher standard of care and better patient experience," says Pierre Billardon, Head of Business Sectors Surgery Posterior Segment at ZEISS Medical Technology and CEO of DORC International. "The global success of ILM-Blue underscores the company’s commitment to providing high-quality and effective solutions to the ophthalmic community."

"We are delighted to bring ILM-Blue to the Chinese market, where it will provide retina surgeons with a proven, high-quality staining solution to enhance visualization," says Jessie Jiang Bo, General Manager of DORC in China. "This approval reinforces our dedication to expanding access to innovative ophthalmic solutions that help surgeons to improve patient outcomes."

ILM-Blue^® is used to clearly stain and easily distinguish the inner limiting membrane (ILM) from underlying retinal layers during vitreoretinal surgery. This facilitates membrane removal and reduces the risk of retinal damage¹. Since its launch in 2010, ILM-Blue^® from DORC has been used in more than 900,000 procedures worldwide², consistently supporting vitreoretinal surgeons to improve patient outcomes and setting new standards in posterior segment surgery. With this latest approval, ILM-Blue^® becomes the first DORC posterior dye product available in China, bringing its trusted solution and proven benefits^3,4 to healthcare professionals and patients in the region.

To date, ILM-Blue^® remains the only ILM staining solution approved by the FDA. It is marketed under the brand name TissueBlue^® in the U.S. and is listed as the #1 preferred ILM stain among U.S. retina surgeons⁵.