Topical Ocular Anesthetics Flashcards
Name the four major molecular components of any topical ocular anesthetic
Hydrophobic Aromatic Ring
Linkage Site (Amide or Ester)
Intermediate Chain
Hydrphilic Ionizable Amide
With the aromatic ring on a topical anesthetic, what effect could it have on the drug?
Para or Meta arrangement of molecules along the ring seems to effect cross drug allergic sensitivity
About what is the ideal intermediate chain length for ocular anesthetics?
2 carbons
Describe characteristics of ester linkages
Relatively easy to metabolize by pseudocholinesterase which is found all over the body
More likely to cause an allergic reaction than an amide bond
Give some example chemicals that use ester linkages
Benoxinate and Tetracaine - esters of para-amino benzoic acid (PABA)
Proparacaine - Ester of meta-amino benzoic acid
Describe characteristics of amide linkages
Must be metabolized in the liver and tend to have a longer duration of action
Give an example of a chemical using an amide linakge
Lidocaine (Xylocaine); used as an anti-arrhythmic
If one is allergic to a drug that uses an ester linkage, would they experience cross sensitivity to a drug using an amide linkage?
No additional allergic risk
In terms of pH and acid/base chemistry, what characteristics make for the best topical ocular anesthetics?
Weak bases that ionize at body pH
Describe the four principles behind a topical ocular anesthetic’s MOA
Reversible block of nerve conduction
Increasing excitation threshold
Increasing refractory period
Decreasing velocity of the nerve impulse
An effective topical ocular anesthetic blocks what?
Sodium influx into cell
Does a topical ocular anesthetic bind the sodium channel inside or outside of the cell?
Inside
Describe how a local anesthetic must get to and bind a sodium channel
1) Must be in non-ionized state to travel through lipid membrane of the cell
2) Within the cell must reconvert from non-ionized to ionized state
3) In the ionized state, LA must bind and block sodium channel
Describe Tetrodotoxin and how it interacts with the sodium channel
Binds to a sodium channel from outside of the cell and irreversible, will kill you
Describe the neuron characteristics that make it easier to anesthetize that neuron
Smaller and unmyelinated neurons are easiest to anesthetize. If myelinated then size also contributes to sensitivity
Name the sensations in most sensitive to least sensitive to anesthetizing
Pain Temperature Touch, vibration Pressure Motor
Name the sensations in fastest to slowest recovering from anesthetizing
Motor Pressure Touch, vibration Temperature Pain
If a neuron recovers from anesthetizing very fast, what qualities could you attribute to that neuron?
Probably a large and myelinated neuron
Describe the indication for the use of topical anesthetics and give examples of such times an optometrist would want to use one
Indicated for increasing patient comfort by decreasing pain and irritation
Tonometry
Anterior segment exam
Fundus CL exam
Forced duction testing
FB removal
Corneal epithelium debridement
Increase effectiveness of drugs (though not done just for this purpose, rather a benefit of how the exam is set up)
Electroretinography
Lacrimal drainage procedures
To decrease discomfort caused by other ocular agents like cyclopentate or possibly tropicamide
What effect could inflammation have on the efficacy of a topical anesthetic?
As most LA’s we use are weak bases they become ionized in the acidic environment during inflammation. This combined with the increased bloodflow due to inflammation causes worse drug absorption ad more of the drug to be removed from the eye before it absorbs
What effect does epinephrine have on anesthetics; how about topical anesthetics?
Epinephrine causing vessel constriction to reduce bloodflow in and out of the area to try and keep as much of the anesthetic at the local area.
This effect doesn’t work with topical ocular anesthetics
What happens when a topical ocular anesthetic gets old?
Gets discolored and can cause more irritation
What is maximum effective concentration and what is that concentration in some of the drugs?
Increasing the concentration beyond this level will not cause a better clinical effect, just toxicities
Proparacaine 0.5%
Benoxinate 0.5%
Tetracaine 1.0%
Cocaine 20.0%
Keeping in mind that in practice this dose may be less (1% tetracaine hurts like hell)
What are some ocular toxicities of the local anesthetics?
Toxicities due to decreasing nerve conduction, topical anesthetics not as likely as systemic.
Mild epithelial staining, edema with cytotoxic LA and/or preservatives
Conjunctival hyperemia for a few minutes
Decreased TBUT
Decreased blink reflex, can lead to driness
Burning and stinging
Decreased tear secretion
Describe the epithelial toxicities with LA’s
Can be serious enough for medical treatment and some people can have an exaggerated (damage in minutes)
Cause epithelial erosion and inhibits regeneration
Possible rapid blurring VA from diffuse desquamation, edema and photophobia and pain
Treatment: Epithelium can heal spontaneously, more severe cases involve systemic analgesics, artificial tears and cold compresses
Describe the allergic response that can be seen with LA’s
Type IV delayed hypersensitivity that tends to be a dermatologic response
Swollen injected conjunctiva, burning and itching
With OD’s it may manifest as peeling and cracking skin on fingertips