Here’s a detailed overview of Proparacaine Eye Drops 0.5%:
✅ DESCRIPTION
Proparacaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution 0.5% is a topical anesthetic used in ophthalmology. It provides rapid and short-term numbing of the eye’s surface for diagnostic and minor surgical procedures.
🧪 FORMULATION
- Active Ingredient: Proparacaine Hydrochloride 0.5%
- Other Ingredients:
- Benzalkonium chloride (preservative)
- Boric acid
- Sodium chloride
- Hydrochloric acid / Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)
- Purified water
- Form: Sterile ophthalmic solution (eye drops)
🌿 NATURE
- Type: Synthetic local anesthetic (ester type)
- Action: Reversibly blocks nerve signal conduction by inhibiting sodium channels on nerve membranes
- Onset: Within 20–30 seconds
- Duration: 10–15 minutes of anesthesia
💊 USES
Proparacaine 0.5% drops are used for:
- Diagnostic procedures like:
- Tonometry (eye pressure measurement)
- Gonioscopy
- Schirmer’s test
- Minor surgical or laser procedures on the eye surface
- Removal of foreign bodies from the eye
- Pre-anesthetic before injection or irrigation
🌟 ADVANTAGES
- Fast-acting – anesthesia within seconds
- Short duration – suitable for brief procedures
- Minimal systemic absorption
- Low irritation compared to older anesthetics
- Convenient single or multi-dose packaging
⚠️ PRECAUTIONS
- Professional use only – not for patient self-administration
- Avoid repeated or prolonged use (can damage corneal epithelium)
- Do not touch dropper tip to eye or surface (risk of contamination)
- Use with caution in patients with:
- Corneal thinning
- Severe dry eye
- Allergies to local anesthetics
- Avoid contact lenses during treatment
- Observe for allergic reactions or hypersensitivity
🧊 STORAGE
- Store at 2°C to 8°C (Refrigerated)
- Protect from light and heat
- Do not freeze
- Keep tightly closed and sterile
- Use within the recommended expiry date
- Discard unused portion after opening (if single-dose)