Treatment of Corneal Abrasions With Topical Tetracaine
Corneal Abrasion
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Corneal Abrasion
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients > 18 years of age with a primary diagnosis of uncomplicated corneal abrasion presenting to NYMH emergency department
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients<18 years of age with complicated corneal abrasions or other eye injuries
- Present more than 36 hours after their initial injury
- Had previous eye surgery or cataracts
- Wear contact lenses or if their injury was caused from contact lens wear
- Had injured both eyes
- Unable to give informed consent
- Current infectious or chemical conjunctivitis
- Have a grossly contaminated foreign body in their eye
- Currently suffering from an ocular infection
- Currently or previously had herpes keratitis
- Allergies to tetracaine or similar medication classes
- Had an injury requiring urgent ophthalmologic evaluation; including penetrating eye injuries, large or complicated corneal abrasions, or injuries causing a significant disruption of visio)
- Unable to attend follow up in 48 hours
Sites / Locations
- New York Methodist Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Tetracaine Group
Normal Saline Group
Patients with he primary diagnosis of corneal abrasion will be treated with ophthalmic tetracaine. Tetracaine will be supplied in three plastic prefilled, commercially available vials, each containing 0.5 mL of preservative-free, undiluted 1% tetracaine hydrochloride (a total of 1.5 mL or approximately 50 drops will be provide to avoid overuse). Patients will be instructed to use 1-2 drops of up to every 30 min for pain control over a 48 hour period with subsequent followup with the ophthalmologist.
Patients with the primary diagnosis of corneal abrasion will be treated with normal saline eye drops. Normal saline will be supplied in three plastic prefilled, commercially available vials, each containing 0.5 mL of normal saline. Patients will be instructed to use 1-2 drops of up to every 30 min for pain control over a 48 hour period with subsequent followup with the ophthalmologist.