To assess the efficacy and safety of indocyanine green (ICG) 0.5% and trypan blue 0.1% for anterior capsule staining in cases of white cataract.This prospective study comprised 55 eyes of 55 patients with white cataract that had phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation. ICG in 30 eyes and trypan blue in 25 eyes were used under air to stain the anterior lens capsule. The staining patterns and the ease of creating a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) were assessed; the intraoperative and postoperative complications were noted. The mean follow-up was 17.68+/-1.65 months.Either ICG or trypan blue stained the anterior capsule uniformly. However, the staining provided by trypan blue was slightly superior. A CCC was successfully achieved in 25 eyes (100%) with trypan blue, and 29 eyes (96.7%) with ICG, respectively. There was no significant postoperative reaction in any eye.The use of vital dyes such as ICG and trypan blue guarantees a complete CCC and makes it possible to deliver the benefits of phacoemulsification in the patients with white cataract.