Blue Eye versus Gelofusine

Did you know that you can now obtain a ready-to-use, pre-filled syringe of lifting agent for your endoscopic procedures? Blue Eye Submucosal Injection Agent is now available in New Zealand and is supplied by Hallmark Surgical. Most of you may be using the well-known and trusted Gelofusine, which has been on the market for many years. However, with Blue Eye available, you can speed up procedure times, as it is ready to use every time.

Submucosal lifting agents are a frequently used product in endoscopic procedures for lifting gastrointestinal lesions prior to removal with a snare or endoscopic device. So why should you choose Blue Eye over standard Gelofusine?

Gelofusine:

Gelofusine is a gelatin-based IV plasma expander that creates a temporary lift in the submucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract. It is often mixed with methylene blue to stain the submucosa and prevent bleeding. This is a great option; however, it requires several steps before it can be used.

Draw the Gelofusine into a sterile bowl or container.
Add a dye — typically methylene blue or indigo carmine — to help visualise the cushion during resection. Sometimes, adrenaline is added to help control bleeding or in the treatment of anaphylactic reactions.
Manually mix the solution to ensure even distribution of dye.
Draw the mixture into multiple syringes for injection.

This process can be time-consuming, especially in high-volume areas where the item is used more frequently. It can also raise questions about sterility being compromised and where human error may occur, which ultimately affects quality.

Blue Eye:

Blue Eye is a ready-to-use solution that simplifies the procedure and minimises the risk of cross-contamination. Its mucosal elevation time is longer than that of standard saline solution, and it comes in a pre-filled syringe containing methylene blue and hyaluronic acid. Therefore, no mixing, drawing/adding up, or errors occur, and you simply open the pack and use it.

If your consultant prefers to have adrenaline in their lifting agent, this does need to be added to the syringe prior to injecting BlueEye. To do this, 50 mL of Blue Eye needs to be transferred to a conical tube and then mixed with the hemostatic factor (such as adrenaline) at a concentration of 0.001% w/v in the solution.

Why clinicians are choosing Blue Eye:

✅ Pre-filled, pre-mixed syringe — use straight from the pack
✅ Built-in blue dye ensures clear visualisation
✅ Fully sterile single-use format
✅ No additional dye, containers, or mixing required
✅ Reduces room setup and prep time
✅ Minimises infection risk from handling

Overall, Gelofusine is the more cost-effective option; however, indirect costs are not always factored into the calculation. These include:

Staff time spent preparing
Additional dye procurement, such as methylene blue
Potential contamination risks
Procedure delays due to prep issues

All these points add up to “cost”, which is why the benefits of Blue Eye often persuade people.

Hallmark Surgical are now supplying Blue Eye in 5ml and 10ml, ready for purchase today :

Blue Eye Submucosal Injection Agent