Indications & Uses
P-caine sterile eye drops are used when a topical anaesthetic for the eye is needed. They provide short-lasting numbing of the cornea for procedures such as tonometry (measuring eye pressure), gonioscopy, removal of foreign bodies from the cornea, and other brief procedures on the cornea and conjunctiva.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Deep anaesthesia, as for cataract extraction: instil 1 drop into the eye every 5 to 10 minutes, for 5 to 7 doses. Removal of sutures: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye 2 or 3 minutes before the stitches are removed. Removal of foreign bodies: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye before the procedure. Tonometry: instil 1 or 2 drops into the eye immediately before the measurement is taken.
Side Effects
Proparacaine may occasionally cause brief stinging, burning, and redness of the conjunctiva. In rare cases, a severe, immediate, apparently hyperallergic reaction of the cornea has been reported. This reaction involves acute, intense, and widespread epithelial keratitis; a grey, ground-glass appearance of the cornea; shedding of large areas of dead (necrotic) epithelium; corneal filaments; and, at times, iritis with descemetitis.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Long-term use of a topical eye anaesthetic such as proparacaine is not recommended. Prolonged use may cause permanent clouding of the cornea (corneal opacification), with accompanying loss of vision.
Contraindications
Proparacaine Hydrochloride sterile eye drops should not be used in patients with a known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in this preparation.