Have you ever been to an eye clinic? You may have seen the doctor put a yellow liquid in your eye and then hold a blue light on it for a while to examine your eye. Sometimes your eye may feel a little numb. Today, we are going to talk about a special medicine that is used at such times, but not many people know about it.
What is this Fluorescein; Proparacaine eye drop?
Simply put, this is not a regular eye drop that you can buy at a pharmacy and use at home. This is a special solution that is only used by a doctor or a trained medical professional, in a hospital or clinic .
This medicine is actually a combination of two things.
1. Fluorescein: This is a yellow dye that is harmless to the eyes. Think of it like marking important points in a book with a highlighter. When this dye is applied to the eye, if there is a scratch, wound, or other problem on the surface of the eye, that is, the cornea, those areas absorb this dye. Then, when the doctor shines a special blue light (cobalt blue light) on the eye, the areas that have absorbed the dye glow green. This makes it easy to find even the smallest damage to the eye.
2. Proparacaine: This is a medicine that temporarily numbs the eye. It's like numbing your gums before a tooth extraction. Once your eye is numb, your doctor can perform tests like measuring your eye pressure (tonometry) and removing small debris from your eye without any pain or discomfort.
Because these two medications are combined, both tests can be performed with a single injection. This saves time and is convenient for the patient.
What should we tell the doctor before using this medicine?
It is very important to inform your doctor about your health condition before taking this medicine. In particular, the following information must be provided.
| Situation to be reported | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| Allergies you have | If you have any allergies, not just to this medicine, but to any other medicine, food, dyes, or preservatives, please let us know first. |
| Heart Disease | If you have a heart condition, it's safe to inform your doctor about it. |
| Thyroid problems (High Thyroid Levels) | If you have elevated thyroid hormone levels, mention that as well. |
| Pregnancy or breastfeeding | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, it is essential to inform your doctor. |
Things to be careful about when using the medicine
After applying this medicine, your eye will be numb for about 15-20 minutes. There are a few things you should definitely be careful of during this time.
- Do not touch or rub your eye: Since your eye is numb, you will not feel any pain. However, if you touch or rub your eye at this time, you may inadvertently damage the surface of the eye (cornea). Therefore, avoid touching your eye completely until the numbness goes away.
- Temporary changes in vision: After the medication is applied, your vision may become slightly blurry. This is normal. Also, your tears may turn yellow. Don't worry, these will completely disappear in a few hours.
- Contact Lenses: If you wear contact lenses, you will need to remove them before applying the medication. You should wait until the stinging has subsided and your doctor has cleared you to wear them again. Fluorescein ointment can permanently stain soft contact lenses.
What are the possible side effects?
Most people do not experience serious side effects from this medication, but it is good to be aware of the possible side effects.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor immediately | |
| Serious Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Vision changes | A significant change in vision or persistent blurring, other than temporary blurring. |
| Things to inform the doctor if they persist | |
| Eye inflammation/pain | A slight burning sensation immediately after applying the medicine is normal, but if there is persistent pain or burning after the tingling sensation has gone, |
| Redness of the eye | The eye continues to be red, not getting better after a while. |
What should be done in case of overdose?
This is not usually the case, as this medicine is given to you by a doctor or trained professional. However, if you think you have taken too much of the medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Take-Home Message
- Fluorescein; Proparacaine is not a common eye drop used at home. It is a special medicine that is only used by doctors in clinics for eye exams.
- This contains a dye to detect damage to the surface of the eye and a numbing medicine to make the examination easier.
- Before using this medication, tell your doctor about all your allergies and other medical conditions (especially heart disease, thyroid).
- When the eye is numb after applying the medication, avoid touching or rubbing the eye for any reason.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience serious allergic symptoms or prolonged changes in vision.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න