Have you ever gone to a doctor to get your eyes checked? You probably remember that when you go, the doctor sometimes puts a few drops of yellow liquid in your eye and tells you to wait for a while. At that time, your eye may feel a little numb, like a little burning. Many people wonder what kind of medicine this is, why is this put in your eye, and what happens with it. Actually, this is a special medicine that is used for several very important tests. That is what we are going to talk about in this article today.
What exactly is this medicine?
Simply put, this is a combination of two medications. That means, these eye drops contain two main things.
1. Numbing Medicine (Benoxinate): Just like a doctor numbs your gums before extracting a tooth, this medicine temporarily numbs the surface of your eye . This means you won't feel any pain when the doctor examines your eye or inserts a small instrument into your eye.
2. A special dye (Colored Dye - Fluorescein): This is the reason for that yellow color. When this dye is applied to the eye, any very fine scratches, wounds, ulcers or other problems on the surface of the eye , that is, the cornea, become clearly visible. When the doctor shines a special blue light (cobalt blue light) on the eye, this yellow dye starts to glow green. That is when even the smallest problem in the eye can be easily detected.
This medicine is only used during eye exams or minor eye procedures. It is not a daily medication for home use.
What are the things you need to tell the doctor?
Before using this medicine in your eyes, it is important to inform your doctor about these facts. This is very important for your safety.
- About your allergies:
- Have you ever had an allergy to Benoxinate or Fluorescein, which are contained in this medicine?
- Are you allergic to any other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives? Be sure to tell us about these things.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant: Tell your doctor about this.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: Be sure to inform about this as well.
Based on this information, your doctor will decide whether to give you this medicine or use another alternative.
How to use this medicine? Things to be careful about
This medicine is not something you can take home. It is given to you in a hospital or clinic by a doctor or trained health professional. After it is given, there are a few things you need to be careful of.
Most importantly: Do not touch, rub, or rub your eyes for any reason for at least 20 minutes after applying the medication, or until the stinging sensation has completely disappeared.
Imagine, your eyes are numb, so you can't feel even a speck of dust getting into them or your finger touching them . At that time, if you accidentally rub your eyes too hard, there is a high chance of scratching and injuring the surface of the eye (cornea). So be very careful until the numbness goes away.
When used with small children
This medicine is also used to check the eyes of young children. But then special care is needed. The doctor will inform you about it. As a parent, it is very important to take care not to let the child touch his eyes.
If you use contact lenses
If you wear contact lenses, you will need to remove them before applying the medication. After the test, ask your doctor when you can wear them again. Usually, you can wear them only after the stinging has completely gone and your eyes have returned to normal.
What to do if you overdose? (Overdose)
Since this medication is administered under the supervision of a doctor, the risk of an overdose is very low. However, if this occurs or is suspected, immediate action should be taken.
In such a case, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or, go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects in some people, but most of the time these are not serious.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor or healthcare professional immediately | |
| Allergic Reactions | Things like skin rashes, itching, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. |
| Vision changes | Blurred vision or other unusual changes. |
| Eye pain | Severe or persistent eye pain that occurs shortly after taking the medication. |
| Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (but should be reported to the doctor if they persist) | |
| Slight inflammation or redness of the eye | A slight burning sensation or redness may occur immediately after applying the medication. This usually goes away after a while. |
| Redness of the eyes | Eyes appear red for a while. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything different or unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Benoxinate; Fluorescein is a special dye that is used to numb the eye and detect problems on the surface of the eye before an eye exam.
- This is not a medicine for home use . It is only used in a hospital or clinic.
- Before taking the medication, be sure to tell your doctor about any allergies you have and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding .
- After applying the medicine , do not touch or rub your eyes for any reason until the stinging sensation goes away. This is very important.
- If you experience severe side effects (pain, vision changes, allergies), notify your doctor immediately.
- If you have any further questions about this medicine, please do not hesitate to ask your doctor .
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