👁️ Fluorescein Ophthalmic Strips
🔹 1. Prescription / Indication:
Fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strips are used in eye care for:
- Diagnosing corneal abrasions, ulcers, or foreign bodies
- Evaluating contact lens fitting
- Measuring tear film breakup time (TBUT)
- Applanation tonometry (e.g., with Goldmann tonometer)
- Assessment of dry eye and ocular surface disease
🔹 2. Description:
- Form: Sterile paper strips impregnated with Fluorescein sodium USP
- Appearance: Orange-colored strip in single-use packaging
- Upon contact with tear film, fluorescein stains the corneal epithelial cells and appears bright green under cobalt blue light.
🔹 3. Composition:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Fluorescein sodium | 1 mg or 0.6 mg per strip (typical) |
| Base | Cellulose-based paper strip |
| Sterility | Individually packed and sterilized |
🔹 4. Advantages:
- Quick, non-invasive diagnostic tool
- Helps visualize corneal defects, ulcers, and foreign objects
- Essential for intraocular pressure measurement with Goldmann tonometer
- Useful in detecting dry eye syndrome and contact lens issues
- No systemic absorption or toxicity when used as directed
🔹 5. Nature / Drug Class:
- Class: Ophthalmic diagnostic agent
- Type: Fluorescent dye (fluorophore)
- Mechanism: Binds to damaged corneal epithelial cells and fluoresces under blue light
🔹 6. Common Packaging:
- Single-use sterile strips
- Packed in foil-wrapped peel-open strips, commonly in boxes of 100 strips
- Labeled as:
- “Fluorescein Sodium Ophthalmic Strips”
- Sterile / For Professional Use / For Ophthalmic Use Only
🔹 7. Storage:
- Store in cool, dry place, below 25°C
- Protect from moisture, light, and contamination
- Keep in original packaging until ready to use
- Do not use if seal is broken or strip is discolored
🔹 8. Patient Advice / How to Use:
📌 For clinical use only. Patient use not advised without supervision.
Procedure:
- The healthcare provider moistens the strip with sterile saline or ophthalmic anesthetic.
- Gently touches the inferior conjunctival sac.
- Patient blinks to distribute the dye.
- Observed under a slit lamp with cobalt blue filter.
Patient Advice:
- May cause temporary yellow-orange staining of skin or tears.
- Vision may be blurred briefly after application.
- Rinse eyes if irritation persists after exam.
- No special precautions required post-use.
🔹 9. Purpose / Clinical Use:
| Application | Role of Fluorescein Strip |
|---|---|
| Corneal abrasion detection | Stains exposed stroma; bright green area |
| Dry eye diagnosis (TBUT) | Evaluates tear film stability |
| Tonometry (IOP check) | Highlights tear film for accurate reading |
| Foreign body check | Reveals scratches or embedded particles |
| Contact lens fitting | Confirms proper lens alignment and comfort |
🔹 ⚠️ Precautions:
- Single use only – do not reuse strips
- Avoid direct contact with infected eye to prevent cross-contamination
- Not suitable for injection or oral administration
- Should not be used with soft contact lenses in place