title: Effect of topical anaesthesia on corneal epithelial fragility.
abstract: The effect of topical anaesthetics on human corneal integrity was assessed by measurement of the alterations they cause in corneal damage threshold. The anaesthetics investigated were 1.0% Amethocaine HCl, assessed immediately after instillation and after delays of 20 min and 60 min, and 0.5% Amethocaine HCl and 0.4% Benoxinate HCl, assessed 20 min after instillation. At 20 min after instillation of 1.0% Amethocaine HCl, the corneal damage threshold was significantly decreased. At other times for this anaesthetic, and for 0.5% Amethocaine HCl and 0.4% Benoxinate HCl, the corneal damage threshold was unaltered.
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011343:Procaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D013748:Tetracaine; D011343:Procaine; C005298:benoxinate