diagnostic stains Flashcards
name 3 diagnostic staines
- fluorescein sodium
- rose bengal
- lissamine green
which stain will you use to see things on the cornea
flourescein
which stain will you use to see things on the conjunctiva
rose bengal and lissamine green
which 2 ways can flourescein be used
- topically
or - injected systemically for flourescein angiography
what is always at hand when doing flourescein angiography and why
defibrillator because it can cause a cardiac arrest
explain why flourescein is not a true stain
- it colours the tear film
- the tear film does not invade intact corneal epithelium (i.e. it can’t pass through the cornea unless it has an abrasion and thats when flourescein enters it)
- lipid membrane impermeable to water soluble polar water molecules
- epithelial damage means flourescein can gain access to deeper layers
what spectrum of absorbed energy maximally excites flourescein molecules
light thats absorbed maximally between 485 - 500nm (blue)
what nm of light does flourescein emit
between 525 - 530nm (green)
what wavelength of light does the burton lamp emit
305 - 410nm
what wavelengths do some RGPs absorb light between
315 - 400nm
what wavelength of light does the blue filter on the slit lamp emit
390 - 410nm
list 6 uses of flourescein
- assessment of corneal integrity (trauma, disease, contact lens a/c)
- rigid contact lens fitting
- contact tonometry
- TBUT
- lacrimal patency
- lacrimal drainage
how is lacrimal drainage assessed with flourescein
- px to blow nose and check if tissue is orange
- if not orange then means theres a blockage in the puncta
- can also monitor the amount of flourescein that is still in the eye so can check if conjunctiva still has flourescein which means it still hasn’t drained away
what are the 2 contraindications of flourescein sodium
- known sensitivity
- dont put in with soft cl’s
what is the caution of the multi dose bottles of flourescein
- contamination problems in hospitals in the 1950’s
- flourescein is used on damaged cornea
- pseudomonas has an affinity for flourescein
- this progresses rapidly and can cause corneal perforation within 48 hours
how rapidly can pseudomonas progress and cause corneal perforation/ulcers
within 48 hours