Visual acuity after topical application of proparacaine.

Bossart, P J; Stephen, R L; Herr, R D; Berndt, D · Ann Emerg Med · 1997

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

To determine the effect of topical anesthetics on visual acuity (VA). We studied 66 consecutive patients (73 afflicted eyes) who presented to a university hospital emergency department with the complaint of eye pain. VA was measured before and after patients were treated with proparacaine, a topical ocular anesthetic. After proparacaine instillation, VA was improved in 33 patients (45%), unchanged in 34 (47%), and worse in 6 (8%). Patients with eye pain often demonstrate improved VA after the instillation of a topical anesthetic.

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