Proparacaine eye drops are a local anesthetic used to temporarily numb the surface of the eye. This medication works by blocking pain signals from the nerve endings in the eye to the brain. This effect allows healthcare professionals to perform various examinations and minor procedures without causing discomfort to the patient.
Medical Uses of Proparacaine
One of the most frequent applications is for tonometry, a procedure that measures the pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure. Numbing the cornea is important for this test, as it allows the tonometer probe to gently touch the eye’s surface without the patient blinking or experiencing discomfort, ensuring an accurate reading.
These drops are also used when removing foreign objects, such as dust, metal shavings, or eyelashes, from the surface of the cornea or conjunctiva. The anesthetic allows the doctor to clear the object without the patient feeling pain or reflexively moving their eye. Similarly, they are used for the removal of sutures from the eye after surgery.
In preparation for certain minor surgical procedures, like laser treatments or cataract surgery, proparacaine can be applied to numb the eye’s surface. It may also be used during diagnostic examinations that require instruments to touch the eye, such as gonioscopy, which examines the angle where the iris meets the cornea, or when taking a small sample of cells for analysis.
What to Expect During Application
Proparacaine eye drops are only administered in a professional medical setting, such as a clinic or hospital. A healthcare provider will typically ask you to tilt your head back and will gently pull down the lower eyelid to create a small pocket. They will then instill one or two drops into the eye. It is common to experience a mild stinging or burning sensation immediately upon application, but this feeling is temporary and quickly subsides.
The numbing effect begins very rapidly, often within 20 to 30 seconds. The full anesthetic effect is typically reached in under a minute. The numbness generally lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes, which is sufficient time for most short procedures.
Because the eye is numb, you will be instructed not to touch, rub, or wipe your eye, as you could accidentally scratch the cornea without realizing it. It is also recommended to avoid putting in contact lenses until the anesthetic has completely worn off. Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions based on the procedure you have undergone.
Potential Side Effects and Safety Information
After the application of proparacaine, some individuals may experience mild and temporary side effects. These can include redness, increased watering of the eye, or a temporary blurring of vision. Some people also report increased sensitivity to light, and wearing sunglasses can help manage this until the effect wears off. These reactions usually resolve on their own as the anesthetic wears off.
Although rare, an allergic reaction to proparacaine is possible. Signs of an allergic reaction can include a skin rash, itching, or swelling, particularly of the face, tongue, or throat. If you experience severe or persistent eye pain, swelling, or significant changes in your vision after the application, you should report it to your healthcare professional immediately.
Proparacaine is for professional use only due to the significant risks of improper or prolonged application. Repeated or long-term use can lead to serious and permanent damage to the cornea, including opacification, which is a loss of the cornea’s normal transparency that can result in vision loss. Medical supervision ensures the drops are used correctly and only when necessary, preventing complications that can arise from masking an underlying condition or delaying proper healing.