Proparacaine-sodium fluorescein

Use of a solution of benoxinate-sodium fluorescein (Fluress) or proparacaine-sodium fluorescein allows simultaneous application of the required anesthetic and sodium fluorescein dye. This method increases the efficiency of the procedure by eliminating the need for separate applications of the anesthetic and dye, but it has the disadvantages of irritation from the benoxinate and excessive instillation of dye. On occasion, a few seconds must elapse to allow tears and excess dye to dissipate before accurate tonometry can be performed. Notably, the differences in the results of tonometry using either benoxinate or proparacaine are not clinically significant. 

Proparacaine is commercially available in a 0.5% solution, both with and without sodium fluorescein 0.25% (see Table 6-2).The onset, intensity, and duration of anesthesia from these preparations are similar to those of tetracaine 0.5% and benoxinate 0.4% (see Figure 6-2). Proparacaine, however, does not appear to penetrate into the cornea or conjunctiva as well as tetracaine. 

When used without sodium fluorescein, proparacaine is widely used as a general-purpose topical anesthetic. It produces little or no discomfort or irritation on instillation and is therefore readily accepted by most patients. When compared directly with tetracaine, 86% of patients reported that proparacaine caused less pain on administration. Unopened bottles may be stored at room temperature, but once opened the bottles should be tightly capped and, ideally, refrigerated to retard discoloration. Discolored solutions of proparacaine should be discarded. 

Proparacaine hydrochloride with fluorescein sodium Fluoracaine Flucaine 0.5% solution combined with 0.25% fluorescein sodium 0.1% thimerosal... 

Fluoracaine solution 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride and 0.25% fluorescein sodium)... 

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