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Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Corneal Epithelial Abrasion with Ocular Burr As a Model for Cornea Wound Healing
Published on: July 10, 2018
Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetic Use for Sterile Corneal Abrasion in the Emergency Department
Alexander Black1, Kathryn Boswell, Daniel Montenegro
1Department of Ophthalmology, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL.
Objectives:
Investigate current treatment and prescription practices of topical ophthalmic anesthetic agents (TOAAs) in emergency departments (EDs) across the United States to understand how these encounters may affect ocular health.
Methods:
A six question survey regarding the use of topical ophthalmic anesthetics was completed by 73 emergency medicine (EM) physicians across 34 states through the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Emergency Medicine Practices Research Network (EMPRN).
Results:
The survey was completed by 73 EM physicians. The majority indicated treating eye-related complaints frequently and comfort using (TOAAs) for pain control in sterile corneal abrasion. Over half of respondents indicated never discharging a patient from the ED with a prescription for TOAAs. The consensus for patient instructions included offering a short course (<48 hr) of treatment. Furthermore, 96% of respondents indicated that they would not prescribe refills for TOAAs, mostly due to concern regarding corneal damage.
Conclusions:
Despite demonstrable concern regarding the use of TOAAs and risk of corneal damage, a minority of EM physicians continue to prescribe these agents in the treatment of sterile corneal abrasion, which poses risks to visual health. Ophthalmologists have begun to advocate for decreased availability of TOAAs in settings such as the ED.
