What you need to know about eye drops (Proparacaine)

Have you ever gone to the doctor to get your eyes checked? Sometimes, especially to check your eye pressure or to remove something like a small piece of debris that has gotten into your eye, the doctor will put a small drop of medicine in your eye. After a while, your eye will feel numb, like you can't feel anything, right? It's like numbing your gums before a tooth is pulled. Today, we're going to talk about a special drop of medicine that's used to temporarily numb your eye and the area around it. It's called Proparacaine .

What is Proparacaine? Why is it used?

Simply put, Proparacaine is an anesthetic drug used in the eye. That is, it is a drug that temporarily eliminates pain sensation in a certain area. When it is applied to the eye, the surface of the eye and the area around it become numb for a few minutes. This makes it much easier for the doctor to perform some tests and minor treatments without pain.

Imagine if something like a small iron bar fell into your eye. How painful would it be to try to remove it? But with this medicine, the doctor can carefully remove it without you feeling any pain.

See the table below for the main uses of this medicine.

Things you need to tell your doctor before using this medicine

Although this is a medication used by a doctor, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition, as that information will determine how suitable this medication is for you.

Be specific about these points:

• If you have heart disease .
• If you have any thyroid disease.
• If you are a contact lens wearer.
• If you have an allergic reaction not only to Proparacaine, but also to other anesthetics , any other medication, food, certain dyes , or preservatives, you must definitely tell us.
• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
• If you are a mother who is breastfeeding .

The doctor will make the best decision based on this information.

How do I use this medicine? Can I use it at home?

Here's something very important. This medicine is never something you can use at home on your own. Proparacaine is a medicine that is only used in a hospital or clinic by a trained doctor or healthcare professional.

The reason for this is that if used incorrectly, there is a high risk of eye damage. For example, if used frequently, it can cause permanent damage to the cornea. Therefore, only a doctor knows how to apply it to the eye at the right time, in the right amount, and using the right technique.

So never think, "My eye hurts, I wish I could have put some of that numbing medicine on it." That's very dangerous.

Do you use this for small children?

Yes, in some special cases, this medicine is also used in young children. But it is done with great caution and only under medical supervision. The decision about this is entirely up to the doctor examining your child.

What if the medicine is used too much?

Since this is used by a doctor, the dose is kelinma hariyata denawa. Therefore, the chance of an overdose is very low. However, if something unexpected happens, or if someone accidentally ingests this, the immediate thing to do is to call the National Poisons Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

Things to be careful about after applying the medicine to the eyes

After your eyes become numb after taking the medicine, there is a duty on your part. That is to take care of your eyes.

• Do not touch, rub, or rub your eye: This is the most important thing. Your eye is numb, so you won't feel any pain. If you rub your eye or rub it with your hand at that time, even a small piece of dust that has gotten into your eye can scratch or injure the cornea. But since you won't feel it, the damage can be serious.
• Do not wear contact lenses: Do not wear contact lenses until the medication has completely removed the redness. The redness usually disappears within 20-30 minutes. However, ask your doctor exactly how long it will take.
• Do not use other eye drops: Do not put any other eye drops in your eyes at this time without asking your doctor.
• Be aware of any changes in your vision: If you experience any blurred vision, eye pain, burning, or redness, notify your doctor immediately.

What are the possible side effects?

Like any medicine, Proparacaine can cause some side effects. However, these are very rare. Let's break them down into two categories.

If you experience any other discomfort not mentioned in this list, talk to your doctor about it as well.

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