Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals : Topical Anesthetics

Question 1

What is the purpose of topical anesthetics?

Answer 1

To numb the surface of a body part

Question 2

What are the uses of topical anesthetics?

Answer 2

• Assessment of eye trauma
• Measurement of IOP
• Removal of superficial foreign bodies
• Ophthalmic Surgery
• Reduce stinging from dilating drops

Question 3

What is the Mechanism of Action of topical anesthetics?

Answer 3

• Reduce sodium permeability

- Nerve impulse does not transmit

Question 4

What is the removal of Superficial Foreign Bodies>

Answer 4

Metallic Foreign Body
Rust Ring
Requires Alger Brush to “polish away” stained cells

Question 5

What is the Sensory Nerve Pathway?

Answer 5

High sensitivity of nerves in CORNEA 
Sensory information travels from cornea
- Corneal Nerves 
- Long ciliary nerves
- Nasociliary nerves 
- Ophthalmic nerves 
- Trigeminal nerve CN (V)

Question 6

What are examples of Topical Anesthesia?

Answer 6

• Alcaine (Propacarpine Hydrochloride)
• Minims Tetracaine Hydrachloride (Tetracain Hydrochloride)
• Fluress (Benoxinate and Fluoscein Sodium)
• 10% Cocaine

Question 7

What are Alcaine, Minims Tetracaine and Fluress an example of?

Answer 7

Topical Anesthetics

Question 8

What topical anesthesia is commonly used in clinics prior to drop instillation for ocular emergencies?

Answer 8

Alcaine

Question 9

What are SERIOUS side effects of Alcaine?

Answer 9

Hives
Difficulty Breathing 
Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
Blurred vision 
Redness of the eye 
Photophobia

Question 10

What type of reaction occurs in Alcaine?

Answer 10

Anaphylaxis

Question 11

What are COMMON side effects of Alcaine?

Answer 11

Dry skin with cracking, grooves or lines in the skin of fingertips, skin rash, hives, itching and redness

Question 12

What is the advantage for minims?

Answer 12

Preservative Free

Question 13

What topical has a supply shortage?

Answer 13

Fluress

Question 14

What can be an alternative for Fluress?

Answer 14

A drop of anesthetic and Fluorescein Strip

Question 15

What anesthesia is for diagnostic pupil disorder?

Answer 15

10% Cocaine

Question 16

What is pupil disorder called?

Answer 16

Horner’s Syndrome

Question 17

What is medically compounded anesthesia and why?

Answer 17

10% Cocaine

Compounded due to tighter regulations

Question 18

What are contraindications for Topical Anesthesia?

Answer 18

Perforation Injuries
Self Administration
Dry Eye testing
Culture collections

Question 19

What are Adverse Effects for topical anesthesia?

Answer 19

Corneal thinning 
Corneal Ulcers 
Corneal perforations
Endothelium Damage
Epithelial Defects

Question 20

T / F

Topical anesthesia may be used during laser refractive surgery

Answer 20

T

Question 21

T / F

Topical anesthetics function by reducing sodium permeability to prevent the nerve impulse from transmitting information

Answer 21

T

Question 22

T / F

Alcaine is an example of a preservative free anesthetic?

Answer 22

F