Have you ever had a minor eye test or procedure? For example, to remove a small piece of debris from your eye, measure your eye pressure, or have minor eye surgery. You may remember the doctor putting eye drops in your eye and saying, "Wait a minute, your eye will start to sting." That's what we're going to talk about today.
Simply put, what is Tetracaine?
Tetracaine is simply an anesthetic drug specifically for the eye . It is a drug that temporarily numbs the eye and the surrounding area, making it pain-free. This is not a pain-relieving eye drop that we usually use.
This is only used before certain tests or treatments performed by a doctor. Consider these situations:
- Do a glaucoma test to measure the pressure inside the eye.
- Remove a foreign body, that is, something that has gotten into the eye, such as a speck of dust or a grain of sand.
- Perform minor eye surgery.
- Take a sample (corneal scraping) from the surface of the eye.
The most important thing: This Tetracaine medicine is not something you can buy at a pharmacy and use at home. It is a medicine that is used exclusively in a hospital or clinic by a doctor or trained medical staff .
Things to tell your doctor before using this medicine
Before giving you this medicine, your doctor will ask you some questions. But it is very important for you to inform your doctor about these things as well.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that? |
|---|---|
| Allergies you have | You should definitely tell your doctor if you have any allergies, especially to Tetracaine, other anesthetics, a compound called PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), other medications, or preservatives. |
| Eye Infections | If you have an eye infection, your doctor may reconsider using this medication. |
| If you use contact lenses | It is important for the doctor to be aware of this, as it is not advisable to wear contact lenses until the eyelash is completely gone. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | As with any medication, the doctor must determine the need and safety of using this medication in these situations. |
| If a mother is breastfeeding her child | It is imperative to inform the doctor about this, as there is concern about the possibility of the medication passing to the baby through breast milk. |
Do you use this for young children?
Yes, this medicine is also used for small children when necessary. But it requires special care . The doctor determines the dosage based on the child's age, weight, and condition.
What if I take too much medicine?
This is usually less likely to happen as it is used by a doctor. However, if something like this happens, you should immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
The most important thing you need to take care of after taking the medicine
This is the most important part of this article. You need to be very careful when applying Tetracaine to your eyes, especially when your eyes are still stinging.
Never touch, rub, or scratch your eye! Your eye is numb, so you don't feel any pain. So if you touch, rub, or even scratch your eye, you may inadvertently scratch or injure your cornea. This can cause serious damage to your eye. So , avoid touching your eye until your doctor tells you to.
Also, do not put your contact lenses back in until your doctor tells you to. They should only be put back in after the eyelash is completely gone.
What are the possible side effects?
As with any medication, some people may experience minor side effects. But there's nothing to worry about. Most of these are minor.
| Side effect | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| Things to tell your doctor immediately | |
| Eye pain | If you experience more than normal pain after the procedure. |
| Skin rash, itching (Hives) | This may be a sign of an allergic reaction. |
| Sensitivity to light | If your eyes become so blue that you can't look at the light. |
| Swelling of the eye or eyelid | This could also be a sign of an allergy or other problem. |
| Usually does not require medical treatment (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| Eye irritation, redness, itching | This is normal for the first few days after taking the medicine, but if it persists, tell your doctor. |
| Tears flowing from the eyes | This may also be a temporary response to the medication. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
How to store the medicine?
Although this is something that applies to clinics and hospitals, it is good to know. This medicine should be stored at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius). It is not recommended to expose it to extreme cold (freeze). It should also be protected from light. If the liquid in the medicine bottle is cloudy or if small pieces (crystals) are visible, it should not be used. Expired medicine should be discarded.
Take-Home Message
- Tetracaine is a medicine used by a doctor to temporarily numb the eye for examinations and treatments. It is not something you can use at home.
- Before using this medicine, be sure to tell your doctor about any allergies you have, other medical conditions, and other medications you are taking.
- Most importantly: Do not touch, rub, or scratch your eye for any reason after applying the medicine until the stinging has subsided. You may not feel the pain and may cause serious damage to your eye without realizing it.
- If you experience severe eye pain, swelling, or difficulty looking at light after the eye is removed, notify your doctor immediately.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න