Ophthalmic anesthetics

What are Ophthalmic anesthetics?

Ophthalmic anesthetics are eye drops, gels, or ointments that contain a local anesthetic and can be administered directly into the eye. Ophthalmic anesthetics block the transmission of pain signals from the nerve endings of the eye to the brain, numbing the eye.

Ophthalmic anesthetics are used to numb the eye or eyes before surgery, after injury, or before certain tests or procedures.

Anaesthetic drops

Examples – lidocaine hydrochloride, oxybuprocaine hydrochloride, proxymetacaine hydrochloride, tetracaine hydrochloride (amethocaine hydrochloride).
Use – largely for initial assessment of minor trauma and for removal of conjunctival and corneal foreign bodies.

Local anaesthetic
This can be in the form of drops, sprays, ointments or injections to numb a part of your body. In eye surgery, drops – alone or combined with a small injection to the eye – will make thefront of the eye numb and free from pain. This is commonly referred to as ‘freezing’ the eye.

Proparacaine belongs to the group of medicines called local anesthetics. It works by blocking the pain signals at the nerve endings in the eye. This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of an eye doctor.