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Topical Eye Anesthetic

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Topical Eye Anesthetic, Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetic, Topical Ocular Anesthetic, Alcaine, Ophthetic, Pontocaine

  • Indications
  1. Eye Evaluation in Trauma
  2. Eye Foreign Body
  3. Eye Irrigation
  4. Intraocular Pressure Testing
  • Precautions
  1. Typically, non-eye specialists should not dispense for home use after Eye Injury (e.g. Corneal Abrasion)
    1. Delays re-epithelialization
    2. Suppresses normal Blink Reflex
  2. However, studies support the safe, short term use of Topical Antibiotics in uncomplicated Corneal Abrasion
    1. Tetracaine 1% solution has been used safely for up to 24 hours in simple Corneal Abrasion
    2. Simple, small, non-pentrating, non-lacerating Traumatic Eye Injury onset within prior 2 days
    3. Not due to chemical or Contact Lens and no infection, contamination or Retained Foreign Body
    4. Waldman (2017) Ann Emerg Med +PMID: 28483289 [PubMed]
  • Preparations
  1. Tetracaine 0.5% (Pontocaine)
    1. Onset in 1 minute and lasts for 30 minutes
  2. Proparacaine 0.5% (Alcaine, Ophthetic)
    1. Onset in 20 seconds and lasts for 15 minutes