A dye composition for use in optical recording media, comprising at least one cyanine dye having an anion selected from the group consisting of thiocyanate, lactate, hypophosphite, tetracyanonickelate, selenocyanate, trifluromethanesulfonate, ferricyanide, 4-hydroxybutyrate, nitrite, 2-(3',5'-dimethyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benztriazole-4-sulfonate, 1,2-napthoquinone-2-diazide-5-sulfonate and picrate and preferably dissolved in ethyl lactate.